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f° OBJECTIVES 



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CHURCH SCHOOL 
OBJECTIVES 



CHURCH SCHOOL 
OBJECTIVES 

"BIGGER AND BETTER SUNDAY SCHOOLS" 



A MANUAL OF STUDY AND WORK FOR THE WORKERS' 
CONFERENCE OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL 



Edited by 
WILLIAM E. CHALMERS 





PHII 


-ADELPHIA 




THE 


JUDSON PRESS 


CHICAGO 


SEATTLE 


LOS ANGELES 


KANSAS CITY 






TORONTO 



\°\ 



o- 



Copyright, 1922, by 
GILBERT N. BRINK, Secretary 



Published September, 1922 






Printed in U. S. A. 



FOREWORD 

This brief manual is designed to furnish a year's 
program of study and work for the Sunday School. It 
is not intended to cover every phase of Sunday School 
organization and effort. It affords a program of study 
for the regular monthly meeting of the Workers' Con- 
ference or Teachers-Officers' Meeting. It also expects 
the Study Meeting will be followed by an earnest and 
well-planned effort. The total result of this program 
of advance ought to be a Bigger and Better Sunday 
School. 

The writers of the various chapters are specialists in 
their several lines. The editor has simply assembled the 
material and given it a common form. 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGE 

I. Planning for a Big Year, by Louis H. 

Koehler 1 

II. Membership and Attendance, by Jay A. 

Lapham 8 

III. Enlisting and Training Workers, by 

Seldon L. Roberts 22 

IV. Departmental Leadership, by Milton M. 

McGorrill, Owen C. Brown, and Anna 

Edith Meyers 35 

V. Building and Equipment, by Henry Edward 

Tralle 57 

VI. Evangelism in the Sunday School, by Al- 
bert H. Gage 66 

VII. Preparation for Church-membership, by 

William Holloway Main 78 

VIII. Work for the Children, by Meme Brock- 
way 89 

IX. Church Vacation School, by Thomas S. 

Young and Elizabeth M. Finn 109 

X. The Summer Assembly, by Thos. B. Frizelle 116 



CHAPTER I 
PLANNING FOR A BIG YEAR 

The program will not work itself. While the Bigger 
and Better Sunday School program carries a certain 
amount of weight and influence because of its intrinsic 
value, let us be reminded at the outset that if any or 
all of its objectives are reached, it will be by means of 
definite planning and labor. The program needs to be 
studied carefully and specific plans made for carrying it 
through to completion. Do not imagine because these 
objectives appear worth while that the entire school work- 
ing force will be deeply interested at once. Plan to 
capture their interest for each successive objective and 
goal. 

Use the monthly conference of workers as the means 
to this end. Undoubtedly, one of the best ways to put 
across a Sunday school program is by means of the 
monthly Workers' Conference. While it is possible for 
one man in the school to do quite a bit by way of advance 
ideas and work, yet no one school can reach its possible 
goal of attainment without the hearty support of prac- 
tically all its working force. " We cannot successfully 
legislate beyond the point to which we educate " is sug- 
gestive, and all wise leaders will see that the right kind 
of educational agitation and propaganda is carried on 
before a vote is recorded on progressive movements. 
There is need of the vision becoming the property of all, 
and it takes time to give visions. Through study and 

1 



Church School Objectives 



reflection and conference it is possible for the workers 
to become enthusiastic supporters of every objective in. 
this great program. 

Campaign Committee 

Strong executive leadership is necessary to any suc- 
cessful group enterprise. After the Workers' Conference 
has decided to enter the campaign for Bigger and Better 
Sunday Schools the next consideration must be the selec- 
tion of the best leadership available for the year's effort. 
Needless to say that this choice of a small campaign 
committee ought to be made with extreme care. It ought 
to be appointed as early as possible. The superintendent 
ought to be a member of the committee. A small sum of 
money ought to be allowed the committee for its neces- 
sary expenses. The duties of this committee are three- 
fold: (a) Responsibility for each month's study meeting 
of the workers' conference; (b) responsibility for the 
campaign of effort which is to follow each study meeting ; 
(c) responsibility for keeping the local school in touch 
with the general movement by reporting to the school 
what is happening in other schools, and by reporting 
to headquarters what the school is planning and has 
achieved. 

The Monthly Study Meeting 

It is best to plan the programs of the Study Meetings 
several months ahead or for the entire year. One person 
should be in charge of the program for any given meet- 
ing, choosing for his assistants three or four persons to 
whom he will assign definite subdivisions of the main 
topic. In assigning the topics he should have two things 



Planning for a Big Year 



in mind, the actual situation in the local school and the 
ideal condition with its reasons. 

1. The one who has the task of reviewing the actual 
condition of the school on any given subject can often 
present his matter most effectively by use of the black- 
board, employing statistics or a graph. 

2. Use two or three persons for the presentation of the 
ideal plan and the reasons upon which it is based. See 
that these persons have information and literature. Prac- 
tically everything depends upon the way in which these 
persons accept their responsibility for this task. If they 
study the problem diligently, read chapters and books 
upon the topic, visit other schools for observation pur- 
poses, correspond with specialists along this line, they 
will be able to write a paper or give a ten-minute talk 
that will bring clearly before the conference specific pos- 
sibilities. The general topic should be broken up into 
three or four subtopics, as for instance, on " Finding and 
Training Leaders." 

a. Where and How Discover Prospective Leaders? 

b. What Means and Methods should be Created for 
Training Purposes ? 

c. Church Supervision and Support of the Training 
Faculty. 

Now let the pastor and superintendent give ready as- 
sistance to those selected to prepare the topics by loaning 
them texts on the subject, assisting them in outlining, 
and giving them addresses of Sunday school folk and 
headquarters with whom correspondence might be car- 
ried on ; and almost every worker will do his share. 

After two or three papers have been read, each bearing 
directly upon the realizable ideal, let the chairman take 



4 Church School Objectives 

charge of a discussion period for 30 or 45 minutes, during 
which time members of the various classes and depart- 
ments will speak upon the topic, their arguments based 
in part upon the vision given through the reading of the 
papers. It is important that the discussion be carried 
on with the expectation of a practical effort on the part 
of the school. The purpose of the conference is not alone 
that of giving vision but of using the vision for immediate 
ends. The problem should be solved, the needs met. 
If papers have been written after diligent study and 
observation, and if the discussion has been carefully 
directed, then the next step can be taken. 

Bringing Things to Pass 

The Campaign Committee should not permit any 
monthly study meeting of the Workers' Conference to 
adjourn without some action approving a definite plan 
of effort and making provision for putting the plan into 
effect. In the study program, the principles and aims 
having been reviewed, a motion can now be made rela- 
tive to solving the problem, overcoming the difficulty, 
attaining the standard, reaching the goal. There should 
be freedom in the discussion before the vote is taken, and 
if the first two steps have been carefully considered it is 
more than likely that the conference will adopt a program 
of activities for the month or quarter looking toward 
meeting the needs and reaching the goal. 

At this point the Campaign Committee is ready with a 
recommendation that the special effort of the month be 
given to the committee they are prepared to name. This 
special committee will bring the action of the Workers' 
Conference before the entire school body as a recommen- 



Planning for a Big Year 



dation. Thus the school feels the matter is worthy of 
support and in practically every case will ratify the action 
of the conference. Sunday school spirit is thus en- 
gendered, and if the objective is brought before the school 
every Sunday for prayer it will greatly help. Right here 
let it be clearly understood that the passing of the resolu- 
tion does not solve the problem. If attendance is to be 
increased the school members must work along certain 
lines of endeavor; if equipment is to be secured, even 
though the money is in the treasury, it must be pur- 
chased, placed, and rightly used; if evangelism is to be 
stressed, then certain classes and individuals should be 
personally interviewed, preparation classes for church- 
membership organized, results conserved. 

The Appendix contains recommendations of a list of 
books. It would be well to have some of these books 
for their use. In many cases the State or City Director 
can supply suggestions of helps and leaflet literature. It 
would be stimulating and suggestive to learn how another 
Sunday school is planning or has achieved the same piece 
of work. 

The Campaign Committee will understand that its task 
is to produce and conserve results. In some cases the 
special work can be completed within the month and a 
final report made to the Workers' Conference. In other 
cases the effort will reach into the following month. In 
every case an earnest attempt should be made to complete 
a given task and add a permanent result to the school. 

The Campaign Reporter 

A third task of the Campaign Committee is reporting. 
It ought to report to the school and to headquarters. The 



Church School Objectives 



school is not alone in this big effort It is marching 
forward with many other Sunday schools in your own 
State and in the nation. The campaign in the local 
school will be stimulated as the workers are made ac- 
quainted with the triumphs which have been won on 
other battlefields. 

Make it somebody's responsibility to report to your 
higher officer — the State or City Director of Religious 
Education. He desires some report of (1) the year's 
plan as adopted by the school, and the results of your 
special efforts, (2) increased membership and improved 
attendance, (3) teacher-training classes, (4) advance in 
departments, (5) building improvements, (6) evangelistic 
results, (7) cradle roll increase, (8) Vacation School 
plans, and (9) delegates registered for the Summer As- 
sembly. 

The final result of this kind of action taken monthly 
will be to bring about educational unity among the work- 
ers. Catching a common vision of the ideal, the workers 
will pray and labor with unwonted zeal. Sunday school 
spirit will be created, and the entire school body will 
catch something of the enthusiasm of its leaders. The 
Workers' Conference will become the very center and 
heart of the school, pulsating life and energy to all de- 
partments and activities. Surely this is a simple way to 
attain. But let no pastor or superintendent slight it 
because it looks simple. It demands work on the part 
of the leaders. Topics must be carefully thought out 
and assigned to selected individuals at least a month in 
advance. Books and other literature must be placed in 
their hands, the discussions must be to the point, sup- 
port must be won for the motion. Any workers can see 



Planning for a Big Year 



at once that by this kind of action the school will take 
advanced positions in the matter of increased member- 
ship and regular attendance, trained leadership, improved 
building and furnishings, evangelism and preparation for 
church-membership, work for little children, and summer 
vacation plans. The close of the year will show the 
school far in advance of its standing at the beginning, 
while at the same time the workers will have developed 
a method of handling school problems that will help them 
meet most of the needs that may arise in the future. 



CHAPTER II 
MEMBERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE 

The Protestant Churches of America stand convicted of the 
spiritual neglect of the Childhood and Youth of America. Over 
27,000,000 of nominal Protestants under twenty-five years of 
age are not enrolled in any Sunday school or other institution 
giving regular religious instruction. 

Such a statement is a ringing challenge to every live 
pastor and to every Sunday-school' officer and teacher. 
In self-respect our churches cannot allow such conditions 
to prevail longer and not make an organized enthusiastic 
effort to meet the challenge, and enroll the boys and 
the girls and the young people in our Sunday schools. 
Further, the day has come when we want the older 
people as well as the younger ones enrolled for Bible 
study. Fathers influence the boys, and mothers are an 
example to their girls in other walks of life. Why should 
they not be in this fundamental part of the influence and 
the life of the church? Every soul in the community 
should be reached with an invitation to study God's word. 
In our day the wail of the Psalmist, " No man cared for 
my soul," ought never to be true in a Christian com- 
munity. The margin of the Bible suggests " sought after 
my soul." The spirit of a live Sunday-school drive for 
more members is exactly described in these words " sought 
after," and in the words of Jesus in the parable where the 
shepherd sought the lost sheep " until he found it," and 
having found, we gather them in. 
8 



Membership and Attendance 



Awaken the Interest 

It sometimes requires considerable urging to get a 
complacent and self-satisfied school to realize its duty 
to enlarge its borders. Just as a non-missionary church 
is spiritually dead, so a non-growing Sunday school is 
stultified. There will always be those also who think 
the effort useless. A sermon by the pastor, a talk by a 
visitor on what some other school accomplished, the per- 
sistent effort of a pastor, superintendent, or teacher with 
a vision is often needed to get things started. After 
having aroused in the Workers' Conference a sense of 
responsibility for those who might be in the school and 
are not, and having decided to enter upon a campaign for 
new members, there are certain necessary next steps. 
The very, first of these is a review of the condition of the 
school to see that all is in good working order. Before 
asking extra work of the car the motorist tightens the 
nuts, greases the gears, fills the tanks, examines the tires. 
Small use to add new members to a boy's class that has 
no teacher. One of the first efforts will be to provide 
a teacher for every class. The cordiality of our invitation 
will be doubted if there are no extra seats for new comers 
and not enough song-books to go around, so attention 
must be paid to our equipment. All that can be done to 
brighten the Sunday-school surroundings and to improve 
the order and efficiency and attractiveness of the school 
program will contribute directly to the success of a mem- 
bership drive. A solemn face and manner are expected 
of ushers at a funeral, but the Sunday-school usher 
should be chosen for his cordiality. His hearty hand- 
shake makes the stranger feel at home. 

B 



10 Church School Objectives 

The Survey 

Who is there to invite to the school ? Those who once 
were members; members of church families who do not 
attend; any one who attends no other school, and new- 
comers who have not attached themselves to any church. 
How are these new members to be found? It is not 
enough to depend upon the vague and indefinite knowl- 
edge of the teachers as to where' new scholars are to be 
found. The only sure and thorough way is to have a 
systematic survey of the entire neighborhood from which 
the Sunday school draws or should draw its support. 
For the school survey is a necessary annual event. Popu- 
lation is constantly shifting, new people are coming in, 
new houses are being built, last year's figures cannot be 
relied upon for this year's work. 

In smaller communities it may be sufficient to conduct 
the survey once in two or three years, though the danger 
is of too infrequent rather than too frequent repetition. 

A Survey by all the Churches or by One Church? 

Once in three to five years (depending upon the rate of 
change in the community) all the evangelical churches 
ought to unite in a thorough, systematic community can- 
vass. For this task careful organization must be made, 
months in advance. 

Within the three- or five-year period each live church 
within the community ought to go out with its own spe- 
cial invitation. In a spirit of Christian comity care 
will be exercised to avoid any suggestion of proselyting. 
When a family expresses a preference for another church, 
the canvasser ought warmly to urge their attendance and 



Membership and Attendance 11 

loyalty to that church, and a record should be kept so as 
to notify the pastor and Sunday school of their choice. 

But the larger number of families in the ordinary 
community are indifferent toward church and religion. 
They have no preferences that have any influence in their 
lives. In a general survey when cards are sorted among 
the churches, and a certain machinery must be put into 
operation before another party calls (if they ever do) 
and extend them an invitation, this class of the religiously 
indifferent are likely to suffer. 

When one warm-hearted church goes out into the 
community because it is seeking men, women, and chil- 
dren, it will take advantage of the first call and any 
opportunity which that call affords, to press home a per- 
sonal, gripping invitation. No doubt will be left in any 
one's mind but that somebody wants them, wants them 
particularly, and if they don't come next Sunday to the 
Baptist Sunday school somebody is going to be disap- 
pointed. Why, the visitor even offered to call on Sunday 
and take them to the school and introduce them ! 

The Invitation 

For a survey* two sets of cards should be prepared, an 
invitation- and a record-card. The invitation-card should 
be a neat, attractive card of about post-card size, having 
printed on one side a word of explanation and a cordial 
invitation something after the following manner : 

The churches of this community extend to you a very hearty 
welcome to worship with them. There is a place for each member 
of your household in the Sunday school. If you have not already 
done so, we urge you to bring the children and enjoy with them 
the privilege of study and fellowship which the Sunday school 



12 Church School Objectives 

offers. There is good singing, an interesting talk, a warm welcome 
awaiting you. 

On the reverse side of the card should appear a list 
of the churches cooperating in the survey, with the loca- 
tion, name of pastor, and time of regular services. If 
the school is conducting the survey alone, the card will 
naturally contain only the notices of that church, and 
the invitation will read something like this : 

A cordial invitation is extended to you to attend the services 

of the Church. If you -are not attending 

regularly elsewhere we wish you to know that there is a place in 
our Sunday school for you and all the members of the family, 
from the Cradle Roll to the adult classes. 

The record-card for the survey should be prepared with 
ruled spaces for: 



Family name 

Address 

Children 



Other members of household 

Church preference 

Remarks . 



This card is for the use of the canvasser only and 
should be carefully filled out after the invitation-card has 
been given as a means of introduction. There is no im- 
pertinence in the questions and none will be suspected 
when the canvasser has explained the reason for the call. 
But some people will not be at home, and a return call 
will be necessary. In such cases the address should be 



Membership and Attendance 13 

carefully filled in on the blank card so that no one shall 
be missed on the second round. 

Dividing the Territory 

Having prepared the cards the next step in preparation 
for the survey is a carefully drawn map of the section to 
be covered. From this will be made the assignment of 
territory. In a cooperative effort each school usually 
assumes responsibility for the survey in a given section, 
This makes it easier to check up the results and place 
responsibility for any failure to do the assigned work. 
Within a given section the work should then be allotted 
to the workers, each being given a definite portion. Usu- 
ally it is found advisable for two to work together. There 
is more cordiality and sociability about the invitation in 
that way and approach to people is easier. There should 
be an agreed time within which the survey is to be com- 
pleted. If the territory is well divided, a week should be 
sufficient. In any case it should not be allowed to drag. 
Local conditions will decide the day and time of day that 
is most convenient for the survey. Many have found 
Sunday afternoon the most favorable time, others find the 
early evening better. 

Those chosen to make the survey should be mature men 
and women. It is not a task to entrust to children or 
very young people. Each district should have its captain, 
whose duty it is to see that his workers have been ap- 
pointed to cover his entire territory, that substitutes are 
provided if necessary, that each one thoroughly under- 
stands his duty, and that the necessary invitation- and 
record-cards and pencils are provided. It is the captain's 
duty to get a report from each of his workers, collect the 



14 Church School Objectives 

record-cards, and arrange for any necessary return calls. 
The captains together with the committee will carefully 
go over the survey-cards and tabulate the results for 
future reference, then turn over to each church those 
cards belonging to it. 

The Membership Drive 

It is only after this survey has been completed that a 
thorough and systematic drive for new members can be 
begun. 

With the results of the survey before us we can 
know definitely what our task is. Unless the survey 
is made before the meeting of the Workers' Conference 
which this chapter is discussing it will be necessary to 
appoint an Invitation Committee to receive the report of 
the survey and place a follow-up work of visitation and 
invitations. Going over the list carefully, the committee 
will enlist the aid of the pastor, the church visitor, teach- 
ers, Sunday-school officers, Home Department visitors, 
Cradle Roll superintendent, and members of the different 
classes. By every sort of friendly, personal, neighborly 
touch we must seek to make the follow-up of the survey 
a real missionary effort. 

The Goal 

This should be nothing less than the enrolment of every 
available man, woman, and child in the community. The 
canvass should have nr mind the Home Department and 
the Cradle Roll as well as every other department of the 
Sunday school. True, this is the ideal, and we shall prob- 
ably fall short of its full attainment; but the higher the 
aim, with an abundance of intelligent labor, the larger the 



Membership and Attendance 15 

success. Such a goal appeals to men when a live pro- 
gram is offered. They like to link up with a school that 
is worth while in numbers as well as in other achieve- 
ments. Few men are so bad that they do not have some 
sympathy for a gbod life. They understand that the Sun- 
day school is in their midst to help boys and girls and 
men and women, and so to help homes and all the best in 
life. Prayer, patience, and perseverance, with tact and 
good cheer, will reach indifferent parents and skeptical 
men who like to see things done. 

The Motto 

A motto of the right sort stirs the boys and the girls 
and the young people. " We are all here " may serve in 
some schools. You recall the answer of Cornelius to 
Peter after Peter had seen the wondrous vision with 
the sheet let down from heaven. The background is 
wholesome for many a Sunday school. Not just the bright, 
prettily dressed ones do we want. We must have them, 
and we want to lead them into the joy of winning the 
neglected ones, the poor little ill-dressed waifs and the 
neglected older boys and girls and young people — older 
folks too. " We are all here " is up to date in happy 
song, and it has Biblical and psychological dynamite for a 
Sunday-school campaign to awaken and capture a com- 
munity. 

A Membership Contest 

A spirit of friendly rivalry stimulates the effort to bring 
in new scholars. It is sometimes undertaken between two 
schools, in which case the contest should be hedged 
about by certain restrictions. The competing schools 



16 Church School Objectives 

should not tap the same territory, and no gains should 
be counted unless they show some measure of permanency, 
such as one-month's or three-months , attendance. 

Within the school a contest may be carried on between 
certain classes -or by dividing the school into the Reds 
and the Blues. Buttons may be distributed and a reward 
offered, such as a banquet for the winners, given by the 
losers at the end of a definite period, say three months. 

Advertising 

The survey has been the first step* in advertising the 
existence of the school. Interesting news items for the 
column of the local paper telling of the drive for new 
members, announcing the captains of the Blues and the 
Reds, little personal items about the meetings of the Men's 
Class, the ball-team of the Intermediates, and many other 
facts will serve to keep the school before the public. 
A small advertisement may be run each week announcing 
the time of and place of the Sunday school. Attractive 
posters in the neighboring store windows, or on the 
church bulletin-board, announcements from the platform, 
notices in the church calendar, invitation-cards and postals 
mailed to all on the survey list, and many other means 
of calling attention to the school may be used. 

Special Programs 

Strangers are attracted to a church or school when 
there is something going on that shows the school to be 
alive and interesting. For this purpose special program 
features, such as orchestra numbers or a special speaker, 
may be played up. But any feature of that sort must not 
encroach upon the lesson period. A large school in an 



Membership and Attendance 17 

Eastern city in its zeal for increased attendance put on 
various attractions which entirely swamped the school 
program. The crowd came to be sure, but very few be- 
came permanent additions to the school. 

Maying Them Want to Come Again 

When by our canvassing and advertising, our personal 
invitations, our telephone calls, notes, and post-cards; 
when by calling for them and being refused once but 
calling again ; when by much patient persistence in well- 
doing and many prayers for grace and guidance we have 
persuaded the stranger to attend the school, how shall we 
persuade him to come again? 

1. A cordial welcome at the door. It is very dis- 
couraging to enter a strange room and feel oneself the 
center of all eyes and not know where to stand or 
sit or whither to go. Ushers should always be at the 
door to welcome strangers with a pleasant word and 
hand-clasp, escort them to the proper department or 
class or provide them with seats in the visitors' section 
until the enrolment officer can attend to them. The 
ushers should see that visitors are supplied with hymn- 
books and Bibles. 

2. Entering a class. All the previous work may be un- 
done by the attitude of a class toward a new-comer. If 
there is a spirit of exclusiveness or snobbery, there can 
be no real cordiality of welcome. It is a very important 
part of the teacher's work to build up in her class a feel- 
ing of good fellowship through social contacts and class 
organization, but these must be permeated by the Chris- 
tian spirit of neighborliness to be effective in the spiritual 
growth of the members. Especially in classes in certain 



18 Church School Objectives 

teen-ages the teachers need to nourish carefully the right 
class attitude. Class prayer-meetings will help and talks 
with certain members of the class. 

3. Recognition of new members. The visitor should 
be urged to enroll as a pupil in the proper class and should 
sign an enrolment-card. A simple recognition service for 
new members may be conducted once a month, when all 
new members are asked to stand or come forward, and 
the superintendent says a few words of welcome. 

4. Attractive general exercises, good singing, earnest 
praying, businesslike reports, varied program, a well- 
prepared teacher, and an attentive and cooperating class 
make the visitor feel he has gotten something worth 
while and worth coming for again. 

5. But old habits are difficult to break and new ones 
take a long time to acquire. With many of those whom 
the membership campaign has attracted to the Sunday 
school it will be necessary to exercise great patience. 
They must be reminded again and again by telephone, 
by calling for them, by a word dropped as they are seen 
at school or on the street. 

Rev. A. E. Henry in " A Working Plan for The Church 
School " suggests the following : 

A Cradle Roll Reception for mothers and babies held 
in the afternoon with toys for the babies, refreshments 
for the mothers, a plaything or picture-card to take home, 
and some one to take a group picture. 

A Primary Party, mothers invited, games and a story 
for the children. 

Home Department Social; get church-members to vol- 
unteer the use of their cars so that the aged and the 
semi-invalids may attend. 



Membership and Attendance 19 

Camp-fire and Egg-roast or a hike for boys' and girls' 
classes, separately. 

Father-and-Son Banqwet. 

Mother-and-Daaghter Luncheon. 

Regular business and social meetings of men's and 
women's classes. 

Making the Attendance Prompt and Faithful 

Ask the secretary to dig into the records and show by 
a curved line -on a chart the average attendance for 
several years. Analyze the report by classes (in a small 
school), departments, and sexes. Note the largest irregu- 
larities. 

Ask the secretary or a special investigator to go into 
the causes of absenteeism. It will be necessary to dis- 
tinguish between real'and reported causes. 

Tardiness will need to be examined. Secure the facts. 
Any investigation of the reasons for tardiness will help 
in the correction. 

Helps 

Records need to be kept faithfully. There may be 
carelessness by the *class officer or the school secretary 
that needs remedying. The secretary's report ought to 
record promptness and tardiness. 

Reports of individual attendance and promptness will 
be a great help. Some well-organized schools aim to give 
parents and scholars a quarterly report. A quarterly 
summary can be made from the superintendent's desk, 
giving special honors. A good plan for weekly report 
of attendance calls attention to the percentage of enrol- 
ment by departments. 



20 Church School Objectives 

Promptness in opening the school session will help 
establish habits of promptness. A chronic weakness of 
many schools is the uncertain hour of beginning. It is 
small wonder scholars become careless when leaders set 
a pitiful example. 

A goal of a higher average attendance set for a quar- 
ter or a year sometimes helps. After investigating what 
the school has done in average attendance careful con- 
sideration should be given to a reasonable advance. This 
new mark should be voted by the Workers' Conference 
and the school. Each Sunday's report will then be com- 
pared with the goal which has been set. 

Promotion of scholars from department to department 
ought to depend in part upon faithful attendance. On 
Promotion Day attention ought to be called to the regular 
attendance. 

Interesting sessions are, after all, the most effective in 
securing faithful attendance. If the Sunday-school ses- 
sion grows monotonous and lifeless and long, it will be 
hard to drag them in with a pair of oxen. Constant 
effort must be made to make the program varied and 
appealing to all. It will' also be the purpose of the school 
leadership to give definite responsibilities of service as 
rapidly as posible. More and more we will expect them 
to come because they have something to do for their 
Master. Even a small task, such as that of class secre- 
tary, will often serve for this purpose. 

Special Schemes 

Schools which are suffering alarming irregularities in 
attendance face the necessity of making a special effort. 
The following plans have been tried with success : 



Membership and Attendance 21 

1. An attendance contest. Similar to a membership 
contest and sometimes joined to it. It usually runs for 
a quarter and puts the boys' classes against the girls', 
or department against department. 

2. A Yellow-line report. A superintendent called 
seventy per cent, a fair average and gave it a red line; 
eighty per cent, was a blue line; and sixty per cent, was 
a yellow line. In the weekly report classes were ranked at 
the red line, above the blue line, and below the yellow line. 
It mightily stirs class pride and puts pressure on ab- 
sentees and tardy folks. 

3. A minimum efficiency standard. One school asked 
each class to set itself a minimum efficiency standard in- 
cluding attendance, giving, prepared lesson, and new 
members. The reports by percentage based on the mini- 
mum standard, with special mention of honor and super- 
honor classes, created a wholesome rivalry. 



CHAPTER III 
ENLISTING AND TRAINING WORKERS 

Every new advance in church school work must wait 
for some one or more workers who have a vision of the 
need, confidence in the possibility of doing the task, and 
the knowledge and skill needful to carry it to a success- 
ful issue. The task of our Workers' Conference this 
month is to study carefully the whole question of enlisting 
and training those who are to lead in the church school. 

The following program is suggested as an outline for 
this study : 

1. A series of short talks or papers on topics selected 
from the headings of the following paragraphs. From 
the material given and the references to books and leaflets, 
an interesting short talk or paper may be planned. 

2. A discussion of the situation in your own church, in 
the light of the facts presented. 

3. Formation of a working plan for the church. Every 
church, however small, should have a workers' training- 
class. Larger schools should develop a complete Training 
Department. 

4. Appoint some one as teacher of the training-class or 
as Director of the Training Department of the school. 

I. THE NEED FOR TRAINED LEADERS 

It has been found by those who study the problems of 
farm and orchard that it is needful to understand some at 
22 



Enlisting and Training Workers 23 

least of the needs, characteristics, and laws of growth 
of plants, grains, and fruit trees in order to succeed well 
in agriculture or horticulture. Relatively more must be 
known if one is to succeed with poultry or live stock. 
Much of what needs to be known for such success can 
be learned in a short time. Much more can be learned 
by longer study. So in addition to the regular courses of 
study offered in our agriculture colleges, there are prac- 
tical short courses which give immediate and usable 
knowledge. The farmer deals with living things, there- 
fore he must be trained. 

But as the touch on life comes to be more intimate 
and on higher planes, more care must be taken to make 
sure that he who takes life into his hands or who touches 
it in any way knows at least the more essential facts about 
it, and has some skill in doing what he is to do. We 
therefore license auto-drivers only after a certain needful 
amount of knowledge and skill can be shown. We pre- 
scribe and require certain amounts of school work to be 
mastered before one may dispense drugs, teach school, 
or practise medicine. But not all people think that such 
requirements should be demanded of those who touch 
life most intimately, and at its highest level, in teaching 
a class in our church school. Too often the thought is 
"Any good person can do that." That just any good 
Christian can teach a Sunday-school class is, however, a 
thought fast disappearing from thoughtful Sunday-school 
circles, and in its place comes the conviction that at least 
a certain amount of definite preparation for this work 
is not only desirable but indispensable. Upon the deepen- 
ing of this conviction, until it finds expression in an ade- 
quate program of training leaders in each of our church 



24 Church School Objectives 

schools, depends the advance so much sought and prayed 
for in our church school work. 

Immediately following the World War and while the 
lessons so vividly taught by its terrific experiences were 
fresh in every mind, a large number of leading men 
pointed out the lessons which these experiences should 
teach the churches. The war experiences have measurably 
dimmed, but the need for leaders trained to the particular 
tasks they are to perform is even more urgent today than 
it was then. The long, hard task of reconstruction and 
upbuilding demands the best of metal and the finest 
tempering and sharpening of minds for the task of church 
leadership. 

Impressive Quotations 

" We may be sure there never was a time when trained 
young leaders have been more needed than they will be 
after the war. The unprecedented destruction of the 
young educated leaders of European nations itself lays 
special obligations upon American trained youth. The 
greatness of the problems that will have to be faced at 
the close of the war, as well as the great constructive 
enterprises of peace then to be achieved, further em- 
phasizes the need." — Henry Churchill King, in Religious 
Education, August, ip 17. 

" ' Things will be different after the war/ is on every 
one's lips. Such expectancy — and always the implication 
that things will be so much better. 

" Will conditions be better after the war ? In democ- 
racies only if the people so will it. The world is ready for 
change. Old customs are broken. But unless Christian 
leadership is given, better perhaps that old customs still 



Enlisting and Training Workers 25 

held. The political heeler, the organization — religious or 
otherwise — with selfish motives now have their chance." — 
A. J. W . Myers, in Religious Education, August, 19 17. 

" This war opens up possibilities of good and evil for 
the future as much surpassing those created by preceding 
wars as this war itself exceeds those others in scope and 
magnitude. It is thinkable, it is possible that it should 
so end that all the treasures spent and blood shed should 
have been wasted, lost, and worse than lost. It is possible 
that it should Usher in a new age of the world so far 
superior to any preceding age as not indeed to justify 
those who brought on the war, but richly to compensate 
for all the spent treasures and the poured-out blood it has 
caused. Which shall be the outcome will be determined 
in part by the issues of the battlefield, but in part also by 
what men and women in Europe and America think and 
say and do at home while the armies fight." — Ernest D. 
Burton, in The Standard, September 29, 19IJ. 

" There has never in the history of the nation been 
such a need for trained men in every field of service as 
today. The decade before us is one of the largest pos- 
sible opportunity for young men and young women who 
have prepared themselves for service." — The Standard, 
September 29, 1917. 

II. SUCCESSFUL METHODS OF CONDUCTING 
STUDY CLASSES 

The following practical methods of conducting train- 
ing-classes are gleaned from a wide field of observation 
and represent in each case numbers of successful efforts 
under varied conditions of equipment and leadership. 
c 



26 Church School Objectives 

A careful study of these various methods will help you 
find the one best suited to your needs. 

The Training-class at the Sunday-school Hour 

This plan may well be called the central factor in 
training church workers. However present workers may 
be qualified, this takes care of the future. 

Members of the class should be at least sixteen years 
old and should have good training in the contents and 
meaning of the Bible, such as would be furnished by good 
work in Keystone Graded Lessons or similar courses of 
study. They should be carefully selected for this par- 
ticular class and released from their other class relations 
for the study period, though they ofttimes retain former 
class relations for social and service work. While the 
membership of the class should never be limited to those 
who expect to teach in the church school (we need 
trained workers for other phases of work), each one 
should be definitely intending to do some kind of church 
work ; just what, may well be left, in many cases, to future 
developments. 

The teacher of this class should be the best possible 
person for this particular kind of work. If necessary, 
such a person should be released from other work to teach 
the future working force of the church. Excepting in 
special emergencies, he could not do a " more important 
task"; there is no task more important than training 
the workers who are to do the work. 

The class should have its own room with sufficient 
equipment and helps to do the very best work possible. 
While the members may participate in the opening wor- 
ship of the school, they should be left undisturbed at the 



Enlisting and Training Workers 27 

close. It requires about that additional amount of time 
to fix these important matters in mind. 

The Study Period of the Monthly Workers' Conference 

Every progressive Sunday school has a regular meeting 
of its officers and teachers each month to discuss and 
plan its work. Not every Workers' Conference has dis- 
covered the helpfulness of giving at least thirty minutes 
of each program to a definite study of Sunday-school 
methods based on a good text-book. When this is regu- 
larly done, not only is the help derived from careful study 
of a good book secured, but also the discussions and 
planning of the other periods of the conference will be 
better grounded and more apt to succeed. 

The course of study should be carefully selected and 
popular methods of class work used. 

An Emergency Class for Present Teachers 

Facing facts as they exist and not allowing ideal con- 
siderations too much place, we must admit that in many 
churches an emergency exists for training our present 
workers, many of whom have been thrust into important 
positions with little or no preparation for the work. 
All that can be done should be done to equip the better 
these faithful people. It is a case of winding up the 
watch while it is running. 

Many of our most successful training-classes are of 
this emergency type, meeting at a convenient time during 
the week or in conjunction with other stated meetings 
of the church. Naturally in these classes more liberty 
must be given to select such elements of a regular course 
of study as will meet the more immediate needs of the 



28 Church School Objectives 

situation. After some foundation work has been done 
in the study of the Pupil, the Bible, and Methods of 
Teaching, it is well to relate closely the further studies 
to the task in hand and use the " project " and " present- 
problem " methods of teaching. Fortunately in our series 
of Judson Training Manuals and the special " Third 
Year " text-books of the New Standard Course of study, 
we have just the guides we need for such study. 

A special method of meeting for this emergency has 
been found in 

Intensive Study Classes 

In following this plan, those who are to constitute 
the class are selected and pledged to do the work: the 
text-book to be used is chosen, ordered, and placed in 
the hands of the pupils at least one month before the 
class sessions begin. A full week or ten days is then set 
aside to be kept clear of other engagements to such an 
extent that from one to two hours each evening can be 
given to intensive recitation and discussion of the ten 
lessons which usually constitute the section of work to 
be done. Some of the outstanding classes that have used 
this method are Calvary, Akron, Ohio; First Baptist, 
Geneva, N. Y. ; and Grace, Camden, N. J., where part 
of the third year's work was done intensively. 

Church-family-night School 

One of the most enjoyable features of modern church- 
school work is the midweek Church-family-night School. 
The essential features of this plan are: 

It is an enlarged program for the regular midweek 
church meeting with educational features to the forefront. 



Enlisting and Training Workers 29 

The evening begins with a church supper, which should 
be served as nearly as possible at cost so that every one can 
attend. Good fellowship should characterize this hour, 
and enough time given to insure neither rush or cramping. 
The entire family should attend. This is followed by a 
period of teaching in which graded classes for all groups 
should be provided, and various lines of work, as Bible 
stories for children, project work for older boys and 
girls, special Bible courses, mission-study classes, and 
classes in training for church-school work, are offered. 
Naturally the course of study to be offered must be left 
to the local workers, but the training of those who are to 
do the work of the church should be a matter of first con- 
sideration, as it is a matter of primary importance. The 
evening closes with a common worship period in which 
all unite. This service should be carefully planned with 
special features so that it will be helpful and interesting 
to all. 

Home Study 

Some who are anxious to do better church-school work 
are so situated that they cannot have the benefits of a 
regular training-class. Others need some particular phase 
of church-school training in which not enough others 
are interested to make a class possible or advisable. 
Home study under the direction of the Division of 
Teacher-Training will offer special help for all such with 
the same text-books and the same recognition and credits 
accorded those in regular training-classes. 

A leaflet giving particulars about "Home Study for 
Training Church-School Workers " will be sent on re- 
quest, or you may write the Director of Teacher-Training 



30 Church School Objectives 

your purpose to begin such study, secure your text-book, 
and begin at once. 

Cooperating with the Community 

In many communities special schools of methods are 
conducted under interdenominational or community man- 
agement. Usually the instruction given in these schools 
is of a high order, and opportunities are offered for spe- 
cial studies not easily provided for by the local church. 
Our Baptist workers should give their just measure of 
support to these schools and as far as possible avail 
themselves of the opportunities they offer. 

Your Plan 

Perhaps no one of these plans appeals to you as just 
the one to meet your particular situation. That may be, 
though the list includes practically all the better stand- 
ardized plans now in general use which have commended 
themselves by wide and successful experience, under many 
conditions of leadership or local handicap. 

If you really intend to have a training-class — intend 
it seriously enough to do everything you can do — you 
will either find a way or make one, and the harder you 
work for it, the more you will appreciate it. 

III. ORGANIZING THE CLASS 

Every worker in a church school is a candidate for 
work in a training-class and should either be a ready 
volunteer or be drafted and assigned to certain needful 
studies in preparation for his work. If he is a person 
who has taken a training-course, he should continue his 



Enlisting and Training Workers 31 

studies in advanced and special lines of work, for unless 
he continues to study he is certain to deteriorate. 

From among the young people and the newly arrived 
members of the congregation should be carefully selected 
those who are to become the future workers of the church, 
and provision should be made for such training-classes 
as they may need. 

To depend upon or even ask for volunteers is not best 
in practise. Many of the most desirable people will not 
volunteer, and some who cannot well be used are quite 
certain to do so. It is better to select carefully your list, 
go to them personally, and talk the whole matter through 
with them one by one, and win them over to the matter 
of preparing to do Christian work, especially to teach. 

The Leader or Teacher 

" Who is to teach the training-class ? " " Our teacher 
moved away and so the class was discontinued." " Yes, 
we do want a teacher-training class in our church, but 
we have no one to teach it." 

Such are the statements frequently met when churches 
are urged to organize a teacher-training class. 

The advance of our church schools awaits better trained 
teachers, the training waits for a suitable leader, the 
highest success of the church's work waits on both. 
How can this need be met ? 

Facing the Situation 

Three qualities are needed by a teacher of teachers: 
personal fitness, willingness to do the work, adequate 
preparation. Of the first and second of these the local 
church must judge. The educational leaders of each 



32 Church School Objectives 

church should find that person who has the Christian 
character and natural gifts to be a good teacher of 
teachers, and by prayer and personal interviews win that 
person to the work of training teachers. Sometimes the 
pastor is the strategic man and adds this splendid ser- 
vice to the many contributions he constantly makes to 
the upbuilding of his church. Not infrequently people of 
ability and fine character who have leisure for Christian 
work make a specialty of teaching others to teach, thus 
multiplying many fold their own work. Most frequently 
one of the busy workers must add this important contri- 
bution to the many other tasks he so willingly performs 
"for His sake. ,, 

In either case the teacher of our teachers should be 
given every help and encouragement to secure the large 
amount of information and training needed for the ac- 
complishment of the work he has undertaken. It is at 
this point that the division of Teacher-training of The 
American Baptist Publication Society seeks to help our 
faithful teachers of training-classes. 

Special " Home Study " work under the direction of 
the Director of Teacher-training will be given any ap- 
proved person who is now teaching a training-class in a 
Baptist church, or who is preparing to do so. 

The Course of Study 

One of the first questions that is raised when a class 
in training is planned is " What course of study shall we 
take ? " In determining this it is well to ask another 
question and seek a true answer before settling on any 
given course of study. What should a training-course 
accomplish? What is its purpose? If we think of our 



Enlisting and Training Workers 33 

purpose simply in terms of mastering a few facts so we 
can repeat them, and be able to tell them to others, one 
course of study will do. If, on the other hand, we think 
of the task of the church-school worker as demanding 
an understanding of people so he can successfully work 
with them in church-school work, knowledge of the prin- 
ciples of teaching and a measure of skill in their use in 
school work, a knowledge of what the Christian churches, 
and more particularly those of his own denomination, are 
doing, and how he can best help in these kingdom tasks, 
how to worship, and how to conduct public worship, 
such knowledge of the meaning, as well as of the facts, 
of the Bible as will render him helpful in using it as 
teaching material — if as is thought by most of the leaders 
in church-school work, these are some of the things a 
church-school worker should secure through his training 
course, quite a different course of study must be taken. 

The New Standard Teacher-training Course is based 
on this idea of fuller equipment for the whole task of 
the church school. 

It is recognized that not the committing to memory 
of facts and outlines, however true or useful they may be, 
but the growing ability to think through church-school 
problems and to use the Bible, missionary information, 
hymns, prayers, and stories in such ways as to inspire and 
help growing people to become Christians and do Chris- 
tian work, is what produces good church-school workers. 

Small Churches 

If your church is small and in a rural section do not 
be discouraged. Many of the best training-classes, who 
are doing excellent work in the New Standard Course, are 



34 Church School Objectives 

in small country churches. Your class under such cir- 
cumstances will probably not be large. But if you deter- 
mine to do the work, you can. Even if no one well pre- 
pared to teach the course of study is at hand, secure your 
books, do careful reading, and meet regularly to work 
over the lessons together. In this way you will soon 
make such encouraging progress that better and larger 
work will be quite possible. You should, after master- 
ing the foundation material in the units of the first and 
second years, select those text-books for special study 
which will give largest help for your own situation. Last 
of all, make sure that the study of training-work issues 
in a program of regular training for your workers. 



CHAPTER IV 
DEPARTMENTAL LEADERSHIP 

The larger divisions of Sunday-school work are gen- 
erally recognized as the Elementary Division, the Secon- 
dary Division, and the Adult Division. Later in our 
study we shall give one month to a consideration of our 
Elementary Departments : the Cradle Roll, the Beginners, 
the Primary and the Junior Departments. This month's 
study will be given to our work of young people and 
adults, and the development of efficient workers in the In- 
termediate, Young People's, Adult, and Missionary Edu- 
cation Departments. 

THE INTERMEDIATE DEPARTMENT 

Technically Intermediates are 12 to 14 years of age. 
For practical purposes, however, " the junior high-school 
age " is the convenient group to deal with. Sunday-school 
work should be divided on strictly sex and age lines. 
There should be a Boys' Department with organization 
and with classes or a single organized class for boys, and 
a Girls' Department with organization and with classes 
or a single organized class for girls (provided that no 
more than one class for each is possible). If the depart- 
ment form is used, it may be organized somewhat as 
follows: Superintendent or Counselor, President, Vice- 
president, Secretary, Treasurer, other officers if needed ; 
Committees (short-term) : Program, Activity (including 

35 



36 Church School Objectives 

Athletics and Socials), Promotion (including Member- 
ship). 

The leadership of this age is of critical importance, 
for these young people are hero-worshipers, lovers of the 
vigorous doers. Secure a vigorous, athletic, manly Chris- 
tian leader for the boys, and the female counterpart of 
him for the girls. The successful teacher of this age must 
expect to give much time in addition to the Sunday-school 
period. If by any or all means he can win them he will 
feel well repaid. 

He needs to have all those qualities which make the 
football captain the most popular of persons to a thirteen- 
year-old plus the Christian qualities that make worth- 
while character. 

In this age unified work may well begin. This or- 
ganization can care for all the activities centering about 
this age group. It should have a Sunday service for 
devotional and instructional training, a vesper service for 
devotional expression, midweek sessions for service, ath- 
letics, and socials. 

The program for these should go beyond the Sunday- 
school class periods. In addition to the Bible work they 
receive in class a program ought to be made up of at 
least the following elements : plenty of games and outdoor 
life in form of gymnasium games, outside sports, hiking, 
camping, etc., health instruction; forms of service to 
home, church, community, and world; vocational gui- 
dance in life-work talks, inspection of local places of 
employment, etc. ; direction in reading, especially of bio- 
graphical nature ; development of personal devotions cul- 
minating in the allegiance to Christ ; development of 
habits of church attendance, public prayer, and testimony. 



Departmental Leadership 37 

Topics for Discussion 

Are the size, teacher, and age group of each class 
satisfactory ? 

Are the lessons graded to the interests, needs, and 
capacities of the pupils ? 

Is there abundant opportunity for socials and athletics 
of all kinds? 

Discuss program for Intermediates on basis suggested 
in last paragraph above. 

For Helps: See Christian Citizenship Training Course 
of Y. M. C. A., Camp Fire Girls Manual, Wood Craft 
Manual, Boy Scouts, Material for Tuxis Boys, and Cana- 
dian Girls in Training. 

THE SENIOR DEPARTMENT 

Large and progressive schools separate the group of 
fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen years from the younger 
Intermediate group and the older Young People's group. 
This group will do better work if given its own organiza- 
tion, and a large measure of initiative. Lack of space 
forbids a discussion of this department. The general or- 
ganization should be similar to the Intermediate and 
Young People's departments, 

THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S DEPARTMENT 

Suit the organisation to the needs of your school. 

If you have a large group of young people, you may 
well have an elaborately organized Department, with 
Superintendent or Counselor, President, Vice-president, 



38 Church School Objectives 

Secretary, Treasurer. At least the following divisions of 
work need to be provided for by committees: Athletics, 
Socials, Program, Service, Promotion (including mem- 
bership duties). Members of this Department should be 
approximately eighteen to twenty-four years of age. If 
the group is comparatively small, two well-organized 
classes working together will provide sufficient organ- 
ization. In that event only President and Secretary and 
Promotion and Program Committees will be needed. 

Have short-term committees in either event. An Ex- 
ecutive Committee composed of the usual officers, the 
Teacher, and the Superintendent or Counselor, will carry 
on the direction of work. But when tasks are found, 
special committees should be appointed and assigned, and 
discharged when the work is done. 

Secure cooperation with the other young people's or- 
ganizations of the church. Do not be an exclusive organ- 
ization. Secure as many as possible from other young 
people's organizations to be members also of the class 
or department. Hold joint socials, an occasional joint 
meeting. Plan work together. Have a Young People's 
Council, made up of representatives from all organiza- 
tions, which will plan a program for all the young people 
of the church. 

How Keep the Pupils Interested 

Interest is not secured directly but is obtained by gov- 
erning the conditions which produce it. How many of 
the conditions below are existent in your school ? 

1. Provide a capable teacher who is Christian, pro- 
gressive, trained, enthusiastic, sincere, sympathetic. The 
teacher is the keystone to the arch of success in teaching. 



Departmental Leadership 39 

2. Keep the group centered around one age. Thirteen- 
year-olds and nineteen-year-olds are water and oil — they 
do not mix. Neither do some other ages. 

3. Supply adequate equipment in way of separate room, 
or curtain partitions, study-books, writing-chairs, black- 
boards, maps. 

4. Provide midweek activities of suitable nature — so- 
cials, athletics, service, reading, study-classes. 

5. Provide something to do for every one; an old 
principle but ever new in its working. Nothing holds 
one to a work like a personal responsibility in it. Analyze 
your tasks and then put the square pegs in the square 
holes. 

6. Guard carefully the Sunday program to make it 
vital, appealing, in study courses, devotional periods, so- 
cial life, classroom procedure. 

How Develop the Devotional Life 

The most delicate matters in religion are concerned 
with the devotional life. Devotional training, like all 
other training, should be based on the interests, needs, 
and capacities of the group concerned. 

Make attractive the Department devotional service. 
Have a capable pianist and a sympathetic song leader. 
Have a suitable room. Remove sight and sound distrac- 
tions. Have a plan. Keep incidental things out of im- 
portant places. Have some well-selected pictures on wall. 
Have careful lighting, good seats, proper ventilation, com- 
fortable temperature. 

Have in the service a varied program of song, prayer, 
Scripture reading, special talks or story, business, 
dramatization, lantern lecture, etc. (See " Hymnal for 



40 Church School Objectives 

American Youth," by Smith, for valuable suggestions of 
worship programs for young people.) 

Have a department or class prayer. This can be com- 
posed by the class itself or selected from written prayers. 
Suitable prayers will be found in " Meaning of Faith, 
Meaning of Prayer, Meaning of Service," by Fosdick, and 
" Prayers for the Social Awakening," by Rauschenbusch. 

Have a reading circle or contest. Choose several books 
of good value for young people. Set up a goal of read- 
ing. Among such books are Fosdick's books mentioned 
above; also " Saul of Tarsus," "How God Calls Men," 
by Davis ; " The Highway to Leadership," by Slattery ; 
" Comrades in Service," by Burton ; " The Americaniza- 
tion of Edward Bok," by E. Bok. (See also list under 
"What to Study.") 

Have fireside chats and personal conferences on some 
of the problems of religion which the young people them- 
selves raise. Young people want to talk out their doubts 
and questions. Think these questions through with the 
inquiring persons. Have a reason for the faith within 
you, and help them have a reason for theirs. In cul- 
tivating a reasonable faith, make sure that you have 
developed faith as well as reason. 

Secure persons to commit themselves to personal devo- 
tions. Have special subjects of prayer each week. Study 
the Bible devotionally by the problem and character 
methods. 

What to Study 

Studies should be selected on the basis of the needs of 
the class. Specific problems, conditions, and questions are 
now paramount. The pupils themselves should select 



Departmental Leadership 41 

the studies, assign lessons, and carry on their own adap- 
tation. The discussional method will be found to be most 
effective. Special assignments, debates, reports on in- 
vestigations, dramatizations, pupils used as teachers, all 
will be profitable and interesting. 

Aside from the regularly written Sunday-school les- 
sons, the following are suggestive as lesson courses : 

Regular Teacher-Training and Leadership-Training 
Courses. 

" The Manhood of the Master," by Fosdick. 

" How Jesus Met Life Questions," by Eliott. 

" Airplane View of the Old Testament," by Price. 

" Student's History of the Hebrews," by Knott. 

" Marks of a World Christian," by Fleming. 

" Program of Christianity," by Sanders. 

Current Mission Study Books. 

" Meaning of Service," by Fosdick. 

" Social Principles of Jesus," by Rauschenbusch. 

" How God Calls Men," by Davis. 

Social Service Suggestions 

It has been clearly shown that the presentation of 
needs to be met or tasks to be performed is the surest 
way of developing social-service zeal. 

Find the needed things in your church and community 
and do them. 

Survey the community. 

Cooperate with other organizations already doing so- 
cial-service work. 

Set up a community standard and seek to reach it. 
(See Social Service Manual for Young People for ex- 
tensive suggestions on things to do.) 

D 



42 Church School Objectives 

Work with New Americans, Invite the foreign-speak- 
ing young people to your service. Help them in their 
own church to work their programs. Help them secure 
employment. 

Set up community recreation. In smaller communities 
great opportunity is afforded to serve by leading the 
play of children. Have a definite program for the season. 
Work with other organizations in this matter. 

Social Service Study 

When some tasks to be done have been presented, in- 
terest is created which will carry the young people into 
a social study. 

Have a social study in the Sunday school. Many young 
people will want to devote the regular Sunday-school 
class hour to a discussion of social questions in the light 
of Christian teaching. The discussional method will 
prove the most interesting. A list of questions of local 
application will be valuable for discussion. Or the class 
may use any of the following : "Christ and the Nations," 
Batten: "Marks of a World Christian," Fleming; "In- 
ternational Aspects of Christianity," Davis ; " Everybody's 
World," Eddy. 

Have a social service reading-course. Many young 
people who do not join a class may yet be enlisted in 
a reading-course, especially if those who are reading 
books in the course are brought together occasionally for 
a social hour and for discussion. Every group of young 
people should have its social-service library so that books 
may be passed around freely. A list of books will be 
supplied which cannot fail to catch and hold the interest 
of young people, because they deal with typical American 



Departmental Leadership 43 

conditions from an intimate, personal, and practical point 
of view. 

Have a series of addresses at the devotional meetings. 
Choose five or six social-service topics of special interest 
in your community or somewhere else and arrange for 
qualified speakers to address the group. The Educational 
Committee may well arrange these for once a month. 
Advertise the series well. 

Have an Open Forum. At such a meeting, which may 
be held on some week evening or on Sunday afternoon, 
various questions of community interest may be discussed 
by persons either in or outside church connections. This 
can be made a very popular means of developing social- 
service interest and education. 

Substitute occasionally a social-service meeting for the 
regular missionary meeting. It would be well to make 
the missionary meeting occasionally emphasize the social- 
service aspect of our missions. 

Distribute literature among members and others. The 
short, interesting pamphlet on social service will give an 
inkling of what it is and seeks to do. Such pamphlets 
may be obtained by application to the Social Education 
Department of The American Baptist Publication Society. 

Topics for Discussion 

Do the members of each class average about one age ? 

Are the classes studying lessons that are graded to 
their ages? (See Keystone Graded Lesson Chart.) 

Are the teachers properly distributed? 

Has systematic effort been made to secure new mem- 
bers from the floating constituency of the church ? 

Has a survey of the community been made to ascertain 



14 Church School Objectives 

possible new groups of young people that might be en- 
listed? 

Is there duplication in the work of several young peo- 
ple's organizations? 

Is there a definitely planned, unified program for young 
people involving devotion, instruction, service? 

Standard for Young People's Work (Adopted by the 
Sunday School Council, January 18, 1917. Approved 
by the International Sunday School Association in 
February, 1917.) 

I. The Scope. The natural groupings within these 
years are recognized to be as follows : Group I, years 13, 
14 (12 optional) ; Group II, years 15, 16, 17; Group III, 
years 18-24. It is understood (1) that these groupings 
shall in all cases be considered flexible, thus permitting the 
adjustment of group organization to local needs; (2) that 
the grouping of any particular pupil is not to be deter- 
mined primarily by age. His week-day social relations 
and his mental and religious development are exceedingly 
important factors; (3) that in the application of these 
principles in the local school the relative efficiency of the 
organization of the Junior Department and Group I be 
taken into account in placing the twelve-year-old pupil; 
(4) that the upper age limit of Group III shall not be 
understood to prevent the promotion into the Adult De- 
partment of those young people who, before passing 
twenty-four, shall have established homes of their own, 
or otherwise have taken up the responsibilities and in- 
terests of adult life. 

II. The General Aim. Building on the .foundation 
laid in previous years (the elementary departments), the 



Departmental Leadership 45 

aim is to produce through worship, instruction, and 
training, the highest type of Christian manhood and 
womanhood, expressing itself in right living and efficient 
service. 

III. Group Aims. The aim of these groups is to 
realize in the life of each individual the following 
results : 

A. In Group I (13, 14) (12 optional). 

a. The acceptance of Jesus Christ as a personal 
Saviour. 

b. A knowledge of Christian ideals. 

c. A personal acceptance and open acknowledgment 
of these ideals. 

d. A public acceptance of the privileges and opportu- 
nities of church-membership. 

e. The development of the social consciousness, and the 
expression of the physical, social, mental, and religious 
life in service to others. 

B. In Group II (years 15, 16, 17). 

a. The acceptance of Jesus as a personal Saviour. 

b. The testing of his earlier Christian ideals in the light 
of his enlarging experiences and the consequent adjust- 
ment of his life choices and conduct. 

c. The expression of the rapidly developing social con- 
sciousness through the home, church, and community. 

d. The development of initiative, responsibility, and 
self-expression in Christian service. 

C. In Group III (years 18-24). 

a. The acceptance of Jesus Christ as personal Saviour 
and Lord. 

b. The maintenance of his tested Christian ideals and 
the relation of these to the practical work of life, 



46 Church School Objectives 

c. The preparation for and a willingness to assume the 
duties and responsibilities of home-making and citizen- 
ship. 

d. The preparation for and acceptance of a definite 
place in the organization and work of the church for the 
community and the world. 

e. The preparation for and acceptance of a definite 
place in the work of life — business, professional, in- 
dustrial — that in and through his daily work he may 
do the will of God and promote his kingdom in the 
world. 

IV. General Principles. 1. The ideal is one inclu- 
sive organization in the local church for each group of 
adolescents. Each of these organizations should provide 
all necessary instruction and training through classes or- 
ganized for specific tasks and individual training; the 
classes to meet separately for instruction ; to meet together 
for prayer, praise, and testimony; to meet separately or 
together for through-the-week activities. 

2. In churches where there already exists a Sunday 
school, young people's societies, and other organizations 
for adolescents, the work of these organizations should 
be correlated in such a way that it be complemental, not 
conflicting or competing. For this purpose there should 
be in each group a committee composed of the presidents 
and teachers of the classes, the officers of the various or- 
ganizations involved, the pastor and any advisory officers 
appointed to this committee by the local church. These 
committees, in conference with those charged with the 
work of religious education in the local church, should 
determine the program of study and activities in order to 
prevent overlapping and duplication of efTort. 



Departmental Leadership 47 

3. The program of study and activities for adolescents 
should be such as to develop them on all sides of their 
nature — physical, social, mental, religious. This should 
include : Bible study and correlated subjects, the cultiva- 
tion of the devotional life, training for leadership, and 
service through stewardship, recreation, community work, 
citizenship, evangelism, and missions. 

V. Means. A. Groupings. For the purpose of ad- 
ministration, the three natural groups may, for the 
present, be named as follows: Group I (years 13, 14) 
(12 optional), intermediates; Group II (years 15, 16, 
17), seniors; Group III (years 18-24), young people. It 
is understood that, as stated under I. The Scope, these 
groupings shall in all cases be considered flexible. 

B. Suggested Form of Organization. The officers of 
each of these groups should be president, vice-president, 
secretary, and treasurer, to be elected by the members 
of the group from among their own number, and a coun- 
selor (or superintendent) selected by the group in con- 
ference with the proper church officials. 

The officers of the group, with the presidents of the 
organized classes and the counselor (or superintendent), 
shall constitute the executive committee in each group. 
The pastor and general superintendent shall be ex-officio 
members of the executive committee. 

It is understood that all the activities of the members 
of each group shall be under the direction of, and related 
to, this central executive committee. 

Other committees may be formed as needed, preferably 
short-term committees appointed for special tasks. 

C. Meetings. Meetings may be held on Sunday and 
through the week. 



48 Church School Objectives 

1. On Sunday, as a group for worship and the ex- 
pression of the devotional life, in classes for instruction. 

2. Through the week, for expressional activities as 
occasion demands, recognizing the physical, social, mental, 
and religious life. 

D. Program. Any complete program of religious edu- 
cation must include the three factors of worship, instruc- 
tion, expression: 

1. Worship. The program should provide opportunity 
for training and participation in worship. 

2. Instruction. 

a. Teachers: The teachers should be graduates of a 
recognized teacher-training course, or its equivalent. 

&. Time: A class period, at least thirty minutes of 
which should be given to the lesson. 

c. Course of Study : There should be courses of study 
graded according to- the needs and interests of each group, 
it being understood that there be elective courses for the 
young people's group. Definite provision must be made 
both in lesson material and by practise for the training 
of leaders for all Christian activities. 

3. Expression. Provision should be made so that all 
worship and instruction shall issue in service for Christ 
in the home, the church, the community, and the world 
along physical, social, mental, and religious lines. 

THE ADULT DEPARTMENT 

In the Adult Division of the Sunday school we are 
seeking to emphasize Bible study as our first objective. 
We would bring all the men and women of our con- 
gregations, the parents of our Sunday-school children, 



Departmental Leadership 49 

and any others in our church field, into the Sunday ses- 
sion of the Bible class. In that session we would keep 
the Bible truths of the lesson as the basis of all class 
discussion. Such teaching is worthy to challenge the 
very best abilities and efforts of our strongest Christian 
workers. Every man's and woman's organization of the 
church should unite to build up these class sessions. 

The second objective of the adult class is evangelism. 
Men and women can reach men and women for Christ. 
The adult class offers an effective means of cooperation 
and fellowship to do it. It can best be done through 
prayer lists, prayer groups, personal and neighborhood 
friendships, home visitation in cooperation with workers 
in the Cradle Roll, the Beginners', Primary and Junior 
Departments of the school. Adult evangelism takes a 
longer time than child evangelism, but systematic efforts 
year after year in this work produce remarkable results. 
Christian men and women in the fellowship of a Bible 
class should be willing to devote themselves to long terms 
of service in order to attain this goal. 

The third objective of the adult class is Sunday school 
and church leadership. All adults of the church and 
Sunday school should join hands with the pastor and 
other chosen leaders to promote all the work. Adults' 
classes should provide and adequately equip rooms and 
furnish the best of lesson materials for the other de- 
partments. They should furnish supply teachers, mem- 
bers for a teacher-training class, and officers and com- 
mitteemen for the Sunday school and church as the need 
arises. Adults are mainly responsible for all the work of 
the kingdom. Hence the adult class must not exist for 
itself alone. 



50 Church School Objectives 

The fourth objective of the adult class is the promotion 
of home religion. As go the homes of America so goes 
America, and the church should do more to have them 
go right. The adult class can help not only by reaching 
parents for Christ, but also by frequent class discussions 
of home problems, by special addresses to parents, and 
by special courses of study such as " Mothers' Problems," 
by Mrs. Harriet Clark, M. D. ; " The Teaching of Chil- 
dren in a Christian Home," by Weigle ; u Parents and 
Their Children," by Moxcey. 

The fifth objective of the adult class is community ser- 
vice. Such service can be rendered by getting into close 
touch with the public schools through visitation, by having 
a church reception or social for teachers once a year, or 
at such times as can be arranged. Cooperate with charit- 
able organizations and with recreational leaders, work for 
good moral standards in city government, and in busi- 
ness, and in neighborhood life. Visit the police court, 
talk with the mayor and policemen, and learn about that 
class of people who most need Christian help. The church 
has a message for every one, high or low, in the com- 
munity. The adult class by persistent, well-planned ef- 
forts can help in a multitude of ways to bear that mes- 
sage to each individual. 

The sixth objective of the adult class is ivorld-wide 
missions. The interest and help of the class can be en- 
listed by conducting special missionary meetings, by cir- 
culating missionary magazines, books, and pamphlets for 
reading, by a ten- to thirteen-weeks' study of a home or 
foreign missionary study course, and by use of the new 
course on Christian stewardship just off the press of 
the Publication Societv. 



Departmental Leadership 51 

Adults can also help in raising up leaders for work at 
home and abroad by encouraging their own children to 
consider it, and by forming friendships with other young 
people of the church and community, and using oppor- 
tunities to talk with them about their life work. Pastors 
and Sunday school workers should encourage and 
strengthen adult class organizations in order to enlist 
a larger number of men and women in these various lines 
of service, and more fully to realize their possibilities 
for good. Adult classes need to keep ever closely allied 
and loyal to the Sunday school. 

Standard for Adult Work (approved tentatively by the 
Education Committee of the International Sunday 
School Council of Religious Education, April 25, 
1922). 

I. Scope. The Adult Department (or division) should 
be so organized and administered as to include within 
its scope provision for meeting all of the educational needs 
of the adult members of the church and the church con- 
stituency — instructional, devotional, and service activities, 
exclusive of the public services of worship. That is to 
say, the ideal is one all-inclusive organization in the local 
church for adults. In churches where there already exist, 
in addition to the Adult Department (or division) of the 
church school, various other organizations with more or 
less clearly defined educational objectives, the work of 
those organizations should be correlated in such a way as 
to be complemental, not conflicting or competing. 

II. Aims. 1. Leading all members of the departments 
to a whole-hearted acceptance of Jesus' Christ as Saviour 
and Lord. 



52 Church School Objectives 

2. Enlisting as members all adults included in the con- 
stituency of the church. 

3. Training in worship and enrichment of the devo- 
tional life. 

4. Acquiring of fruitful knowledge with central em- 
phasis upon objective Bible study. 

5. Training for leadership and service and continuous 
participation of all members of the department in those 
forms of service to which they are best adapted. 

III. Means. As a means of realization of these aims 
there is required : 
1. Organisation, 
A. Adult Department (or division). 

a. Membership. The ideal is an all-inclusive organiza- 
tion for all of the adult members of the church and its 
constituency. 

b. Officers. 

(a) Superintendent. 

(b) Secretary and treasurer. 

(c) Pianist. 

(d) Song leader. 

(e) Director of activities. A director of home and 
extension classes (or superintendent) should be provided, 
charged with responsibility of forming as many as pos- 
sible of these classes. He should meet occasionally with 
each class in order to supervise the work. In the larger 
schools it may be found desirable to have also a director 
of devotional work, a director of study and training, a 
director of service, and a director of recreation. 

c. Committees. 

(a) Executive Committee. This may be composed of 
the Adult Department superintendent, secretary-treasurer, 



Departmental Leadership 53 

director of activities, and at least one representative from 
each organized class and each of the other adult organiza- 
tions of the church, or may be otherwise constituted as 
desired. It is understood that this committee shall be re- 
sponsible to the superintendent of the church school 
(Sunday school) and the Committee of Religious Educa- 
tion or other properly constituted authority of the church. 

(b) Special Committees. These should be appointed 
as required by special activities. Special committees have 
been found to be a much more effective means of getting 
results than standing committees. A special committee 
should be appointed for each specific project or task, to 
work under the leadership of the director of the activity 
concerned, and .to be discharged when the task has been 
accomplished. 

d. Adult Classes. The membership of the department 
may be grouped into classes as follows : 

(a) Special Study Classes. These are temporary class 
groups whose membership is determined by the choice of 
subjects of study of the members of the department. 
Various elective courses should be offered (see program 
of study), and all members should be free to choose 
according to personal preference. Special effort should 
be made to enlist members in training-classes and to bring 
together parents into class groups for the study of child 
training. 

(b) Organized Classes. As may be found best to meet 
the needs of the local situation. The organized class 
should have fa) president, (b) vice-president, (c) secre- 
tary-treasurer, (d) teacher, (e) executive committee, (f) 
leaders of class activities and special committees as neces- 
sary. 



54 Church School Objectives 

(c) Home and Extension Classes. These classes 
should be formed to provide opportunities of study and 
training for all those who for one reason or another can- 
not or do not regularly attend the Sunday school sessions. 
Need will be found for week-day and week-night classes, 
neighborhood classes, mothers' classes, classes for shut-ins 
and for the aged, and classes for firemen and others em- 
ployed seven days a week. With perseverance and in- 
genuity a place can be found for every adult. 

2. Program of Study. 

A. Bible Study Courses. A comprehensive program 
of Bible study suited to the needs of the local situation 
should be provided. Usually this will be found to require 
not only the Improved Uniform Lesson, but also a wide 
variety of brief, elective Bible study courses, including 
studies of particular books of the Bible, lives of great 
Bible characters, the messages of the prophets, the life 
and teaching of Jesus, the beginnings of the Christian 
church, the life and teaching of Paul, courses involving 
the application of Bible teachings to modern life, etc. 

B. Subject Study. The program of study should in- 
clude provision for the study at some time of such sub- 
jects as Christian teachings, the meaning of prayer, the 
Protestant reformation, denominational history, compara- 
tive religions, the mission and program of a modern 
church, Christian missions, both foreign and home, etc. 

C. Training Courses. At least one course should be 
continuously offered in training for leadership and teach- 
ing in which standard text-books will be used. Other 
courses should afford opportunities for training of 
parents, training in personal evangelism, training in so- 
cial service, training in stewardship. 



Departmental Leadership 55 

D. Reading Courses. These should be planned to sup- 
plement the general and special courses in realizing the 
aims of the adult division. 

3. Training in Worship. Special attention should be 
given in the departmental program to training in worship 
and in the class sessions to training in prayer. 

4. Program of Service for the Adult Department (or 
Division). 

A. In the Department. 

a. Increase the membership. 

b. Maintain and operate a standard organization. 

c. Win all members to the Christian life. 

B. In the Local School. 

a. Give loyal support to the church school (or Sun- 
day school). 

b. Assist in providing facilities for the religious train- 
ing of the children and young people. 

c. Assist in securing adequate provision for social 
life. 

C. In the Local Church. 

a. Secure church attendance. 

b. Provide trained workers for all departments of the 
church work. 

c. Assume some definite responsibilities for boys and 
girls. 

D. In the Home. 

a. Promote systematic Bible study. 

b. Seek to promote family religion. 

c. Encourage good general reading and the study of 
parental responsibilities. 

E. In the Community. 

a. Assume some definite social task. 



56 Church School Objectives 

b. Cooperate with other social service agencies. 

c. Promote missionary effort. 

Missionary Education 

Why? To enlist every member of the school in intel- 
ligent, enthusiastic, systematic, persistent participation in 
kingdom service as a normal and necessary expression of 
the Christian life. 

How? By instruction and service activities carefully 
planned within the plane of the pupil's interests and 
ability. Avoid money-raising schemes that involve beg- 
ging rather than personal giving. Promote missionary 
reading by officers, teachers, and pupils. Lists of suitable 
books for all ages are furnished by the Department of 
Missionary Education. Watch for new ideas in The Sun- 
day School Worker. Create a missionary atmosphere by 
use of maps, pictures, mottoes, posters made by indi- 
viduals or classes. Send one or more delegates to a mis- 
sionary conference or summer assembly for inspiration 
and new plans. 

When? A special missionary program feature at least 
monthly, and occasional socials and dramatic presenta- 
tions during the week. 

Where? In the class, through a missionary interpreta- 
tion of the lesson and illustrative missionary anecdotes; 
from the platform by the use of missionary hymns, prayer, 
pictures, stories, impersonations, addresses, and sketches. 



CHAPTER V 
BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT 

Almost any church can make improvement in its build- 
ing and equipment for its teaching if it has in it at least 
one member who senses the need and who wants it 
enough to take the lead with faith and determination. 

This improvement in building may involve the erection 
of a new plant or the remodeling of or adding to an old 
one. It may involve only the securing of a tent or the 
renting of a near-by room. All depends on the location, 
size, character, and needs of the church organization. 
The same is true of the equipment in the building. 

The Small School 

If the church is a small one, with a small Sunday 
school in which there are three or seven classes meeting 
in the one room, let no one say that nothing can be done 
to improve the situation. Always there is something 
that may be done in the way of improvement. 

At least curtains may be used for shutting out dis- 
tracting sights and in part also the sounds. The cur- 
tains may be hung on wires in such a way as to be moved 
back and forth at will. In some cases folding screens 
may be used instead of curtains for the partial separa- 
tion. 

Sometimes a part of the school may be put into a tent, 

or a garage, or a store, or a hall, or a home — and it has 

been done, here and there. Any second place for a part 

e 57 



58 Church School Objectives 

of the school is better than the one place for all the 
school. It is even possible to have a part of the school 
out under the trees in suitable weather. 

Now, let us raise the fundamental question. Why 
should any church with one room remain content to do 
the teaching in only one room? Why should not some 
one in the church catch a vision of the need for more 
rooms, and begin to talk and plan and pray and agitate 
for the building of a two- or three-story addition in which 
the teaching and recreational work of the church may be 
conducted? This has been done again and again, and 
why may it not be done yet again ? 

The Partly Graded School 

Even the small one-room school may become a partly 
graded school, as has already been suggested, with a 
second room for the children, so they may have their own 
superintendent, with songs, prayers, and lessons all so 
graded as to fit definitely into their interests and needs. 

Almost any small school ought to be able to have a 
third department, consisting of the boys and girls from 
about nine years of age to about fourteen years of age, 
with a separate place in which to meet, and their own 
superintendent, with songs, prayers, and lessons all so 
graded as to fit definitely into their interests and needs. 

As to equipment, every small school, with one, two, or 
three rooms, should have chairs of different heights, 
blackboards, rugs, maps, charts, pictures, song-books, les- 
son-books, handwork materials, musical instruments, 
library for the pupils, and training-books for the workers, 
with such other educational apparatus as it may be pos- 
sible to secure from time to time. 



Building and Equipment 59 

The Departmentalized School 

The minimum building requirements for a fully de- 
partmentalized school are as many rooms as there are 
departments, so that each department may have its own 
separate graded order of worship, conducted by its own 
superintendent, and its own graded equipment. 

Each assembly-room should have four solid walls, with 
no movable partitions anywhere, so that the work of 
the department, including its singing, may not interfere 
or be interfered with by that of any other department. 

Movable partitions are more expensive than solid walls. 
They are noisy and troublesome. They do not so com- 
pletely separate department from department as do solid 
partitions. 

If it be objected that movable partitions are necessary 
for the enlargement of the church auditorium, for the 
occasional larger audience, the answer is that those who 
are provided for by means of movable partitions could be 
better accommodated in galleries, or balconies, in the 
auditorium itself, and at less expense, without spoiling 
the educational portions of the building. 

Another building requirement is a separate room for 
each class in each department, beginning with the Primary 
Department. Each classroom must have four solid walls, 
with a hinged door opening into the assembly-room. 

It has been found that it requires no more floor space, 
and that it costs practically no more money, to have both 
assembly-rooms and classrooms than to have assembly- 
rooms alone. 

On this point it may be well to quote, from " Planning 
Church Buildings," the following paragraphs: 



60 Church School Objectives 

It is possible for any church having a Sunday school number- 
ing three hundred or more to have individual classrooms as well 
as departmental assembly-rooms for practically the same amount 
of money that the assembly-rooms alone would cost. 

This is true for the reason that it requires no more floor-space 
to care for a given number of students in a department with 
individual classrooms and assembly-room than with assembly-room 
alone. Explanation of this fact lies in the further fact that each 
student requires only six square feet for assembly purposes and 
only nine square feet for classroom purposes. The six square feet 
for an assembly and the nine square feet for class together make 
the fifteen square feet required when all the students of the 
department are handled in one large room. 

The important fact then is, if the church is able to build at 
all for a given number of students in a given department, pro- 
viding fifteen square feet to the student, this same space properly 
utilized will provide also individual classrooms as well as assem- 
bly-rooms. 

In other words, when the classes of a department are assembled 
in class around tables or in desk-chairs, in the one room without 
partitions, there must be left, between class and classes, room 
for the free movement of workers and students, and also there 
must be sufficient floor-space between classes to make possible a 
fair degree of removal of class noises from class noises. 

Now when each class is assembled in an individual classroom, 
a student may be seated with his back against a wall with another 
student in another class having his back to the same wall, and 
also there is no occasion for the moving about in the classroom 
of anybody outside the class. 

Thus nine square feet is all that is needed by each student in 
an individual classroom, but the same student needs fifteen square 
feet when his class is in the large room with other classes. And 
for assembly purposes, during the departmental order of worship, 
in the departmental assembly-room, there is needed for chairs a 
little less space than in the large church auditorium, so that six 
square feet for each student is quite sufficient. 

The general truth is: If the church is able to provide an assem- 
bly-room for a given department, then it can also provide indi- 



Building and Equipment 61 

vidual classrooms, with the same floor-space and at practically the 
same cost. 

As to equipment requirements, the following may be 
noted : 

1. Beginners' Department. 

The finish of the interior should be in scale with the 
size of the children, and the ceiling should be low, usually 
about eight feet. The fireplace mantel-shelf should be but 
about two feet four inches above the floor level. The 
windows should have clear or obscured white glass, and 
should be provided with shades. 

In the furnishing of the room, the stronger tones of 
red, blue, and yellow should be avoided because of their 
nerve-irritating qualities. The warm tints of yellow are 
recommended for the color scheme in a room with north 
light, and the cooler tints of green, blue green, and gray 
in a room with south light. 

In the room there should be : A rug ; standard kinder- 
garten chairs of three heights — eight, ten, and twelve 
inches; a piano; a cabinet for materials; suitable teach- 
ing-pictures, hung low ; and small, low, round tables for 
class groups. In one end of the room, separated from 
the children, there should be some adult seats, for the use 
of visitors. The room, of course, should be kept clean 
and in order. 

2. Primary Department. 

The finish of the interior should be in scale with the 
size of the children, and the ceiling should be low, usually 
about eight feet. The windows should have clear or 
obscured white glass, and should be provided with shades. 
In the furnishings, red and other pronounced colors 
should be avoided, and there should be a controlling color- 



62 Church School Objectives 

scheme. The warm tints of yellow are recommended for 
rooms with north light, and the cooler tints or green, blue 
green, and gray for rooms with south light. 

In the assembly-room there should be: A rug; chairs 
of different sizes; a piano; a blackboard; table or desk 
for superintendent; cabinet for supplies; suitable teach- 
ing-pictures, hung low; seats for adult visitors. In 
each classroom there will be: A rug; low, round class- 
table, stained the color of the woodwork; suitable chairs, 
twelve and fourteen inches high; teaching-pictures and 
posters. 

These rooms may be used for all the week-day teaching 
activities, as well as the Sunday instruction, for the chil- 
dren of this age, but should not be used for any meeting 
of adults, since they are not suitable in proportions, in 
finishings, or in furnishings. 

In a very small school, theiPrimary Department, may be 
taken care of in the- same room, with the Beginners, but 
it is far better to separate the two departments, in ac- 
cordance with the above suggestions. 

3. Junior Department. 

In dividing the floor space in this departmental unit, 
there will be allowed six square feet of space for each 
student in the assembly-room, and nine square feet of 
space in the classrooms. The classrooms may be on two 
sides of the assembly-room, and opening into it, or may 
be near-by, each room opening into a corridor. There 
will be needed six classrooms for a department number- 
ing fifty to sixty, and more or less according to the size 
of the department. This departmental unit may be on 
the second floor, or even on a third floor, if the building 
is fireproof, but should be kept out of the basement. 



Building and Equipment 63 

There should be two toilets near the departmental unit, 
one for the boys and one for the girls. In a small school, 
two toilets will serve both for Junior and Intermediate 
departments. There should be a suitable room for hats 
and wraps adjacent to the departmental unit. 

The windows should be of clear or obscured white 
glass, and should be provided with shades. 

In the assembly-room there should be the following: 
A rug or battleship linoleum ; chairs of two heights, four- 
teen and sixteen inches; piano; flat-top desk for the 
superintendent; blackboard; maps; teaching-pictures; 
Junior mottoes ; graded song-books ; honor roll ; bulletin- 
board; reference library; stereograph; and cabinets for 
curios and supplies. In each classroom, there should be : 
A rug ; round table and chairs, or preferably desk-chairs ; 
a blackboard ; teaching-pictures and posters. 

4. Intermediate Department. 

For this department there is needed an assembly-room 
and individual classrooms, just as for the Junior De- 
partment, with such differences in equipment as may be 
demanded by the differences in interests and needs. 

And this department unit too should be used for all the 
week-day teaching and club activities, as well as for the 
Sunday instruction, for all the students of this age. 

5. Senior Department. 

The needs for this department are very similar to those 
of the Intermediate Department, with such differences in 
equipment as may be demanded by the differences in in- 
terests and characteristics. 

The equipment should be utilized to the fullest extent 
for both Sunday and week-day activities. In a small 
school this department may be handled with the Young 



64 Church School Objectives 

People's Department in the assembly-training, in a pro- 
gram of worship, but always there should be the separate 
classrooms. If there are fifty or more in the department, 
at least six classrooms will be needed. 

6. Young People's Department. 

The needs for this department are very similar to those 
of the Senior Department, with such differences in equip- 
ment as may be demanded by the differences in interest 
and characteristics. 

In this department the classes may be larger, but, in 
a department with ninety or more, there should be at 
least four separate classrooms, two for young men and 
two for young women. 

One of the rooms may be utilized as a teacher-training 
room, though, more and more, all the classes in this de- 
partment will be training-classes, as we secure training- 
lessons and better equipment and teaching. 

In some cases it will seem best to combine this de- 
partment with the Senior Department in the program of 
worship, but never for class work. In some cases it 
may seem best to join with the adults for a brief period 
of worship, and, in other schools, each class will conduct 
its own period of worship. 

The young people's assembly-room should be utilized, 
not only for a program of worship on Sunday, but for the 
young people's meetings of all kinds, Sunday and week- 
day, devotional, missionary, instructional, social. 

7. Adult Department. 

There are needed at least two classrooms for adults, 
one for men and one for women, in a small Sunday school, 
and in a school of five to seven hundred there ought to 
be at least four classrooms for adults. 



Building and Equipment 65 

Usually these classrooms will be on the main floor, 
though they may be on the second floor, or in the base- 
ment, if any classes are going to be there. The largest 
of the adult classrooms should be on the main floor, 
easy of access, and should be utilized for as many purposes 
as possible — teaching, prayer-meetings, missionary meet- 
ings, socials, lectures, etc. 

Most adult classes will prefer to have their own ser- 
vice of worship, but it would be an advantage if all the 
classes in the department could unite for a fifteen-minutes' 
program of worship in the largest classroom or in the 
preaching auditorium. If this program of worship is 
built around a definite theme, and is so conducted that it 
evokes real worship, it will abound in teaching values. 



CHAPTER VI 
EVANGELISM IN THE SUNDAY SCHOOL 

The Sunday school is the most productive field of the 
church for Evangelism. There are three principal reasons 
for this : ( 1 ) The Sunday school has people in the time of 
their life when it is easiest and most natural to win 
them to the Christian way of living. Youth is the golden 
hour for evangelism. (2) The Sunday school uses the 
Bible as its great text-book. Whenever people study the 
Word of God it is comparatively easy to win them to the 
Bible way of living. (3) The Sunday school is organized 
and equipped for effective evangelism. The courses of 
study (especially the graded lessons) form a good foun- 
dation upon the basis of which an intelligent decision for 
life can be made. The plan of departmental organiza- 
tion and division into smaller classes under consecrated 
trained teachers gives opportunity not merely for inten- 
sive instruction but also for personal work. Every Sun- 
day school is an evangelistic opportunity for the church 
second to no other. It should therefore be the purpose 
of the Sunday school to win its scholars to personal 
allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ and into actual service 
for him. 

How Organize a Sunday School for Evangelism? 

The whole organization should be filled with an evan- 
gelistic spirit. Of course it is evident that Sunday-school 
evangelism is of the educational type and not of the 
66 



Evangelism in the Sunday School 67 

highly emotional type often used in adult evangelism. It 
thinks in terms of all of life rather than a single emo- 
tional experience. It seeks to interpret to the scholars in 
terms that they can understand in the stage of develop- 
ment in which they are living the Christian way of liv- 
ing, to secure acceptance on their part of the Christian 
way of living as their own and to give practise and 
experience in this Christian way of living. 

Teachers should be selected rvho have the evangelistic spirit 

Every Sunday school teacher should be a teller of the 
good news. This " Good News " should radiate from 
the life as well as be spoken by the lips. Every teacher 
teaches a little by what he says, more by what he does, 
and most by what he is. 

There is a law of teaching which says, " Without 
learning on the part of the student there is no teaching 
on the part of the teacher." If this be true, then a teacher 
who is presenting the Lord Jesus Christ should expect 
that the scholars should know the Christ, accept him as 
personal Saviour, and reproduce his life here on earth. 
If a teacher in the Sunday school is not doing this, he 
is not teaching. Replace him with some one who will 
really teach. 

Know the Seasons of the Soul 

Although youth is the time when most people are won 
to Christ, it is also true that in the period of youth there 
are seasons or periods when the soul is more sensitive 
than at others to the Christian message. If one will re- 
member his own experience or observe carefully any 
group of young people, he will know the truth of this 



68 Church School Objectives 

statement. Every teacher should know the religious crises 
of youth and be ready to take advantage of these God- 
given opportunities. 

There are four periods of deep religious interest in 
youth. These seasons of the soul are indicated by the 
following analysis : 

The Nine-year-old, For the child who has had good 
home training and a good spiritual Sunday school there 
is often a beautiful religious awakening at the age of 
nine or ten. This should never be forced, but when it 
comes naturally it should be treasured by home and 
church as one of the loving gifts of God. 

The Twelve-year-old. Every boy and girl around the 
twelfth year is religious and can be easily won to the 
Lord Jesus Christ. Was not Jesus twelve years old 
when he had his religious experience in the temple? It 
is God's marvelous plan to prepare the soul for the en- 
larged and adult body which is soon to follow. In other 
words, God wants Christian bodies. So before the period 
of rapid bodily growth the soul-awakening comes. Many 
conversions come in this period. If we were doing our 
work as we ought to do it, we would win practically all 
at this time. 

The Fifteen-year-old. There is a religious interest 
around the fifteenth year. When the body is growing 
rapidly, all other interests are in the background, includ- 
ing religion. But when the bodily growth is somewhat 
completed and the new powers are functioning, and just 
preceding or accompanying the great social awakening 
there is a religious awakening. Many conversions come 
at this time. Many reconsecrations are made and many 
" life decisions " are formed. It is very evident that 




Evangelism in the Sunday School 69 

God gives this religious interest for the purpose of Chris- 
tianizing the social life of youth. 

The Eighteen-year-old. There is a period of religious 
interest around the eighteenth year. Both social and 
physical forces are strong, but the dominant faculty of life 
is now the intellectual. It is quite evident that God's 
plan includes not merely the physical and social forces 
of life, but also the intellectual. God wants the brain 
power of the world Christian. Hence the appeal must 
be made in terms of the intellect. 

Striking Statistics. There are plenty of statistics to 
show that fully eighty-five per cent, of all additions to 
Protestant churches come through the Sunday school. 

A survey of thirty-four Sunday schools showed that 
fully sixty per cent, of the Sunday-school teachers and 
officers were won to Christ and became members of the 
church by the time they had reached their thirteenth year. 
Many others around the fifteenth or sixteenth year, and 
others around the eighteenth or nineteenth years; while 
only ten per cent, became Christians after their twentieth 
year. 

Dr. F. F. Peterson, Baptist Director of Religious Edu- 
cation for Massachusetts, has charted 2,800 cases of de- 
cisions in services conducted by him. He has found that 
seventy-two per cent, were between the ages nine and 
sixteen. He says : " Win for Christ while in the grammar 
school ; secure life decisions in high school ; train for life 
service in college." 

How to win. Between the ages nine to sixteen there are 
two principal methods: (1) the personal work of parents, 
teachers, and pastor, and (2) a well-conducted Decision 
Day. 



70 Church School Objectives 

For those seventeen and over, the personal interview 
method is absolutely the best method. 

Preparation for a Decision Day 

There are seasons of the year which lend themselves 
naturally to a Decision Day — such as Christmas, New 
Year's, Easter, and Children's Day. Every teacher and 
every school should give the pupils an opportunity from 
time to time to decide for Christ. This should never be 
sprung upon the school. There should be weeks of care- 
ful and prayerful preparation. 

Initial Meeting. Every good Sunday school has a 
regular monthly Workers' Conference. Without this con- 
ference there is either inefficiency or autocracy in the 
school. The only way to secure the cooperation of the 
teachers and officers in planning and administering the 
school is through frequent workers' conferences. Two 
months before the proposed Decision Day service there 
should be a workers' conference on the subject " Evan- 
gelism in the Sunday School." There could be presented 
three brief messages ; one on " The Sunday School a 
Field for Evangelism," another on " Seasons of the Soul," 
and a third on " The Teacher an Evangelist." The pastor 
or superintendent could outline the preparation for the 
Decision Day in the Sunday school. Four things would 
be expected of each teacher in every class above the 
Primaries — that is, nine years and over: 

1. A survey by each teacher of every member of his 
or her class. It is better not to ask the information of 
the scholar but of the parent if his sympathy and in- 
terest can be counted upon. A card like this may well be 
used: 



Evangelism in the Sunday School 71 



Name ... 

Address 

Class in S. S Age 

Christian ? Member of Church ? 

Growing in the Christian Life ? 

Father Christian ? Member What Church ? . . 

Mother Christian ? Member What Church ? . . 

Chum Christian ? Member What Church ? . . 

What greatest obstacle to Christian life ? 

What the most natural approach? 

Who has most influence ? 



2. Each scholar is put on a prayer list by each teacher 
and prayed for daily by name. Sometimes the teacher 
will ask the Christian members of the class or some one 
else to join in a prayer league for the unsaved members 
of the class. A good prayer list is as follow : 

My Class 

1. Name , 

Address 

2. Name 

Address 

3. Name 

Address 

4. Name 

Address 

5. Name 

Address 

6. Name 

Address 

My purpose : The Spirit helping me, I will pray and work 

for the salvation of the above-named persons. 

Name 



72 Church School Objectives 

3. After the teacher has prayed daily and by name for 
his scholars he is to see each one personally about be- 
coming a Christian. This personal interview ought not 
be before other members of the class or even before 
parents. The parents should be visited and their coopera- 
tion enlisted. 

4. A hundred per cent, attendance of every class on 
Decision Day. 

The Second Meeting. The success or failure of the 
evangelistic effort is largely dependent upon the prayerful 
personal effort of the teachers. The church prayer-meet- 
ing should remember them often and earnestly. The 
prayer-meeting subjects during this period might in- 
clude phases of personal work. At the regular meeting 
of the Workers' Conference following the initial meet- 
ing which has launched its evangelistic effort, the teachers 
are expected to have their survey completed and to report 
the progress they have made. Just so soon as earnest 
work of this sort begins, difficulties will arise. Teachers 
need to counsel together and to pray for each other that 
they may act with gentle, loving, tactful wisdom and per- 
sistence. Shy and unresponsive boys and girls are often 
very difficult to approach. Last winter a teacher of a 
class of high-school girls used invitations to dinner, to 
auto rides, to a class supper, to a picnic, and appeals for 
help to decorate the church, in order to get the desired 
interviews. She was tempted many times to give up, but 
on Decision Day had the joy of seeing every member of 
her class go forward. 

At this meeting of the Workers' Conference selection 
may be made of those who shall be asked to testify briefly 
before the school. Two or three such testimonies given 



Evangelism in the Sunday School 73 

each Sunday before Decision Day by leading men, women, 
and young people whose lives attest their words will 
impress those you hope to reach. 

A Decision Day 

For many of the scholars this will not be a Decision 
Day but rather a Declaration Day. The plans as outlined 
above should be followed carefully by every school, no 
matter how large or how small. The actual conduct of 
a Decision Day will differ with the size of the school. In 
the larger schools it should be by Departments, that is, 
the Juniors by themselves, the Intermediates by them- 
selves, and the young people and adult sections by them- 
selves. This can be done simultaneously on one Sunday, 
or on successive Sundays. The Superintendent of the 
Department, the General Superintendent, or some well- 
known and experienced worker in Religious Education, 
should conduct the service. Care should be taken not 
to subject the school to an unknown person or to wrong 
methods. 

In the average small school of one hundred or less 
good results can be secured by combining the entire school 
above nine years of age. Never attempt a Decision Day 
without weeks of careful preparation as outlined above. 
Never spring such a service upon the teachers or upon 
the pupils. 

Hon to Do It 

Have a spiritual period of worship. Make all an- 
nouncements. Take records, offerings, etc. Arrange 
with the pastor to take as much time as may be needed. 
If church service is at eleven o'clock, and you are not 

F 



74 Church School Objectives 

through on the minute, let the church service wait. Let 
nothing interfere with this decision service. Do not 
attempt a lesson. Let some one present the claims of 
Christ, simply, directly, and challengingly. The biggest 
appeal is this, " It is the right thing to do." Do not talk 
long, ten or fifteen minutes is long enough. 

There are two general methods in use, signing of cards 
by classes and coming forward. 

1. // cards are used by teachers, it is a good plan for 
the one who is conducting the service to ask the teachers 
to come forward. Sometimes a few of them can be asked 
for their personal testimony, telling when they became 
Christians and the value of the Christ to them. Each 
is then given cards and after special prayer sent back to 
his or her class. The decisions are secured by each 
teacher in his or her class. 

This is a good form for a card : 

My Declaration for Christ and the Church 

I do now accept Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour and Lord. 
I desire to be baptized, in obedience to the command of Jesus 

and according to his example. 
I do reconsecrate myself to Jesus Christ and dedicate myself 

to some definite form of Christian Service 
I desire to join this church by letter or experience. 

Name . ., 

Address 

Date .. : 

2. Public Declaration. After the leader has presented 
the claims of Christ and of the Christian life he asks 
each to bow the head and tell the heavenly Father what 
he is willing to do. Then one by one he calls to his side 



Evangelism in the Sunday School 75 

several men and women and young people, well known 
to the pupils, who give a brief statement of when they 
became Christians and the help it has been to them. They 
always say that they became Christians in their youth, 
or if they did not, that they are sorry that they did not 
begin to follow Christ when he first called in youth. 
After these have given their personal testimony the leader 
asks that the room be very quiet, that each listen to the 
voice of God, and that all pray. Then he asks those 
who have accepted Christ recently or those who will now 
accept him to come forward and publicly confess him, 
saying, " I take Jesus Christ to be my personal Saviour." 
Everything is very quiet. They come one by one as God's 
Spirit speaks to them. There is no urging except from 
within. But an opportunity is then given for those who 
have been won through personal work and for all others 
to declare publicly allegiance to the Saviour. 

After those who are ready have come (do not rush — 
take time), the leader asks all members of the church 
present and all teachers who will pledge to the young 
converts their help, love, and encouragement to come 
forward and stand back of them. 

Those who have taken their first step go into another 
room where a record of each is taken. They are all sent 
home to tell their parents the important step which they 
have taken for Christ. 

The pastor and teachers each write personal letters to 
the new Christians. Special classes are formed by the 
pastor for definite instruction in church-membership and 
Christian living. Each teacher follows up each member 
of his class, helping that one to grow as Jesus grew " in 
wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." 



76 Church School Objectives 

Young People 

A Decision Day will secure splendid results in every 
school, especially for the ages nine to sixteen. After 
sixteen it is better to depend more upon the personal in- 
terview method. Good results can be secured by the use 
of a card such as given above if used by the teacher 
or if used in the school as a whole. In the larger schools 
where the young people are by themselves, splendid re- 
sults can be secured by giving each a blank card and 
asking him to put on one side his name and address and 
on the other a statement of just that which he is willing 
and ready to do for Christ. Of course this information 
is strictly confidential between the teacher and the scholars 
or between the pastor and these young people. 

Parents 

Every child is a key to some home. Do something for 
a boy, and you have gained the interest of his father. 
Do something for a girl, and the mother is your friend. 
Do something for a little child, and the grandparents will 
call you blessed. Adults can and ought to be won for 
Christ. Every church that has young men and young 
women and older men and women in Bible classes, wins 
year by year many of them to the Lord Jesus Christ. 
In addition to this every child in the Sunday school opens 
some home for the pastor, the teacher, or some friend to 
enter with the personal message of Jesus Christ. If that 
child is won to Christ, it is natural for the pastor or Sun- 
day school teacher of that child to talk with the parents, 
securing not only their cooperation but also their own 
decision for Christ. If a boy becomes a Christian, his 



Evangelism in the Sunday School 77 

father can be won better and more easily than under any 
other circumstance. Win a girl, and it is easy to win the 
mother. " A little child shall lead them." Many parents 
have been won into the Christian life through a child. 
Follow up every home until the entire family is united in 
Christ and in the church. 



CHAPTER VII 

PREPARATION FOR CHURCH- 
MEMBERSHIP 

After Decision Day, What? 

Not all of those who come forward or sign cards on 
Decision Day are ready for church-membership: Some 
may be too immature and others not yet. persuaded of 
their duty to be baptized and to unite with the church. 
Those who come from non-Christian homes are likely 
to have very vague ideas about the church and what it 
stands for. They all need instruction in what it means 
to be a Christian. 

No man is admitted to membership in a fraternal order 
of any standing until he has been thoroughly instructed 
in the aims, ideals, and history of the organization and 
learned some of its elaborate ritual. Membership in the 
Christian church is not hedged about with secrecy and 
ceremony, but is a great and solemn step whose serious- 
ness every new member ought to feel. Too often in the 
past we have- taken for granted the young Christian's 
knowledge of his duty and responsibility to the church. 

Many pastors, realizing this, now make it a part of 
the year's work to gather together the Sunday-school 
scholars who have signed cards or otherwise shown an in- 
terest in the Christian life, and give them instruction in 
what it means to be a Christian and what is involved in 
church-membership. 

78 



Preparation for Church-Membership 79 

The Pastor's Class 

Name. This group is known by various names, such 
as The Pastor's Class, Young Disciples' Class, Young 
Converts' Class, Training-class for Church-member- 
ship. 

Time. It should meet at some hour other than the 
regular Sunday-school hour, probably on a week-day at 
the close of the public-school session. 

Members. Doctor Gilkey says, " Except in cases of 
unusual maturity I have advised children under twelve to 
await another year before joining the class." On the 
other hand, many leaders urge, as Mr. Gage has sug- 
gested in the preceding chapter, that many children of 
nine or ten, brought up in a Christian home, understand 
the step they are taking and should be included in the 
class. 

Leader. The pastor is the logical leader of this class 
but if for any reason he cannot do it, the Workers' Con- 
ference should seek out some man or woman to whom 
can be entrusted this very important follow-up work 
without which the evangelistic effort is not complete. 
It may be that a teacher of a Junior or Intermediate 
class or the superintendent of the Junior Young People's 
Society may prove to be the right leader. 

Class Organisation. It is very desirable to establish 
the class as a regular order in the minds of boys and 
girls, and to make them so heartily enjoy the class that 
they will ask for its repetition each year. It ought to 
include the boys and girls who have joined the church 
and can be made to feel a responsibility for their friends 
who are not Christians. These young Christians will 



80 Church School Objectives 

be a great help in building up a loyalty to the class and 
in making its program interesting. The class ought to be 
more than a lecture or catechizing period. It ought to 
have its own social life and spirit of service. Use the 
same name each year so that it comes to have a definite 
meaning for all, and carries its own loyalties. Have 
some one write a class song set to a hymn tune that 
youngsters enjoy singing. Always have a delightful so- 
cial occasion, which may be called the Pastor's Party 
or the Pastor's Picnic. Above all make the regular class 
sessions very earnest and important, with registered at- 
tendance, a sincere devotional spirit, a straightforward 
appeal to conscience, and dependence on the Spirit of 
God. 

The Course of Instruction 

It is unwise to attempt too much in this class. The 
few simple truths concerning what it means to be a 
Christian, what helps there are for us in the Christian 
way, why and how we are baptized, and what church- 
membership means are the essentials for such a course. 
Better results are obtained by holding four to six meet- 
ings and keeping to this one purpose than by prolonging 
the time and trying to cover a wider range of Christian 
knowledge and experience. 

If sufficient interest is shown the pastor may find among 
the older members of this class the nucleus for another 
group with whom he can go more thoroughly into Bible 
study or Christian doctrine. This class has the one 
specific purpose of preparing the group for that next 
step which should follow up Decision Day and conserve 
its results. 



Preparation for Church-Membership 81 

The Topics 

Each pastor will wish to make his own outline, but will 
doubtless welcome any helpful hints. 

A brief outline for a course is here recommended 
based upon suggestions taken from Doctor Gilkey's " A 
Course of Training for Church-membership." It as- 
sumes there will be six meetings of the training-class. 

The Meeting Hour 

Each session should be opened with a hymn and prayer. 
After the lesson has been discussed and its personal ap- 
plication made clear there should be a little season of 
silent prayer. The leader should suggest what the prayer 
thought is to be, and if it seems wise call for a few 
sentence prayers to close the period. 

The points of the outline can be brought out by ques- 
tioning the children, and they should be encouraged to 
express their ideas, but not to be argumentative. In this 
small and intimate group the pastor will soon discover 
any special difficulties and be able to deal with them 
individually. 

Select one verse as a motto or guide, and have the 
class commit it to memory and repeat it at every meeting. 
Choose the verse with great care, and be sure the chil- 
dren understand its simple meaning. The verse will 
probably remain with them through life. 

A well-known evangelist asks all the converts at his 
meetings to commit to memory Joshua 1:9: " Have 
not I commanded thee ? Be strong and of good courage ; 
be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord 
thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." 



82 Church School Objectives 

LESSON I 

God's Call. 1 Samuel 3 : 1-10 

Samuel came from a religious home and lived in the 
temple itself, yet he did not recognize God's voice until 
Eli helped him to understand. So we may fail to hear 
God calling us if we refuse to listen to him when he 
calls through 

1. Nature. Psalm 19 : 1. The far-away stars speak 
of his majesty, the flowers at our feet tell of his care. 

2. Conscience, the still, small voice within that we try 
to quiet but cannot, is God's means of guiding us. 

3. Friends, who out of love- for us and love of Jesus 
have tried to lead us to him. 

4. The example of others. There are in every church 
men and women whose upright lives unconsciously recom- 
mend Jesus to all who know them. 

5. The Bible. The more we read it, the more we realize 
that its messages are words of God sounding in our souls. 
If you read the First Psalm, you know that you have been 
told by God the truth about good men and bad. 

6. The Words of Jesus. Most precious are the words 
of the loving Jesus our Saviour, and Master which have 
power in our hearts. 

LESSON II 

Christ's Call. Mark 1 : 14-20 ; Acts 1 : 26 

From a discussion of what it meant to these four men 
to become Christ's followers we pass to the question of 
what it means today to be a Christian. 

1. The things to be given up. A follower of Jesus is 



Preparation for Church-Membership 83 

not asked to give up any innocent or harmless occupation 
that gives pleasure to himself and helps to make life 
happier and better for others. He is expected to give 
up selfishness, laziness, temper, bad words, foul thoughts, 
disobedience, untruthfulness. These are the things the 
Christian sacrifices. 

2. The Christian gains. He' gains a perfect example. 
John 13 : 15. 

He learns how to love others. John 15 : 12. 

He gets a true friend. John 15 : 14. 

He gets the key to great truths. John 17 : 8. 

He becomes sure of heaven. John 14 : 2-4. 

He has a comfort in every sorrow. John 14 : 16. 

He gains a great ambition. Philippians 3 : 14. 

He gains a chance to help others. Matthew 28 : 19. 

LESSON III 

The Christian. Romans 5 : 8 

1. Reasons for becoming a Christian: 

(1) Christ loves us. He gave himself for us. 

(2) We need him. Without him we can never reach 
our highest and best. 

(3) The world needs Christians. The world is full of 
suffering and sadness which only the love of Christ can 
change. 

2. Helps for the Christian life. 

(1) The Bible. Suggest some simple plan for daily 
reading and get the class to undertake it. 

(2) Prayer. Prayer is communion, talking things over 
with God, listening for his voice. Impress upon the chil- 
dren the necessity for prayer. 



84 Church School Objectives 

(3) Association with Christian people. 

(4) Service — doing something for Christ. As in 
everything else we learn by doing. 

LESSON IV 

The Cost of Being a Christian 

1. The Cost to Jesus. Philippians 2 : 6-8 ; Romans 5 : 8. 
The people Jesus tried to help misunderstood, hated, and 
killed him, yet for their sakes and ours he was lonely, 
hungry, homeless, despised, and went to his death. 

2. The Martyrs. From Stephen, the first martyr, to 
the missionaries who died in the Boxer Uprising in China, 
the Armenians who have perished in the desert rather 
than deny Jesus and become Mohammedans, and the 
nurses and doctors who have given their lives for the 
poor and the sick, a countless number have followed 
Jesus' example. 

3. The Cost Today. His call today as in every day 
is a call to service. Some part of every Christian's time 
and strength and money should be devoted directly to 
his service. All of our time and strength should be 
used in ways He would approve. Explain here about the 
tithe. There is : 

(1) The stewardship of money. All we have really 
belongs to God. We must account to him for what he 
has placed in our keeping. Is one cent out of every ten 
cents too much to ask of us, when we consider the need 
of this great world of ours ? 

(2) The stewardship of worship. We are instructed 
to bring — not send — our offerings to the church. We can- 



Preparation for Church-Membership 85 

not have spiritual prosperity, or any other kind of real 
prosperity if we neglect the worship of God — in his 
sanctuary. 

(3) The stewardship of time. There are 168 hours in 
a week. Of each day we have eight hours for labor, 

eight hours for sleep, and eight hours for ? 

We must learn the importance of specific Christian work — 
in addition to working for our living What are we doing 
with the sixteen hours of each Lord's Day? 

(4) The stewardship of influence. Not a merely good 
influence, but the throwing of the whole power of a 
Christian personality into the work of Christ's king- 
dom. 

(5) Tne stewardship of knowledge. We have been 
taught; then let us teach. What we know is of great 
value to those who have not been instructed. 

(6) The stewardship of prayer. Let us definitely pray 
for others. Prayer is our greatest resource of power. 

(7) The stewardship of personal work. We buy, sell, 
persuade, and plead in many ways. Shall we not tithe 
these opportunities and persuade others to learn of our 
Master ? 

(8) The stewardship of joy. Christians ought to be 
happy people. The joy of the Lord is our strength. 

4. The purpose of a Christian's giving. We give our- 
selves and our money to help to answer the prayer Jesus 
taught us to make (Matt. 6 : 10), that is, to help bring 
in his kingdom. 

5. And the reward. Some day we shall see his king- 
dom come (Matt. 19 : 29), and we shall hear the Master 
say : " Well done, thou good and faithful servant ; enter 
thou into the joy of thy Lord" (Matt. 25 : 21). 



86 Church School Objectives 

LESSON V 

Church-membership. Matthew 16: 13-19; Acts 2:43-47 

1. The Christian Church. 

( 1 ) What it is. The following definition is taken from 
" Conversations on the Christian Life " : 

A Christian church is a body of men, women, and 
children, each of whom has personally accepted Jesus 
as Saviour and has been baptized, who have, under 
the guidance of God, banded themselves together for 
public worship, for instruction and growth in the word 
and will of God, and for united effort in carrying out 
Christ's work on earth. All true believers in all local 
churches make up the great universal church of Christ. 

(2) The Baptist Church. Members of Baptist churches 

a. Believe in the Bible as their only rule and guide. 

b. Have no man-made creed but find in the New Tes- 
tament the statement of their faith. 

c. Believe in absolute loyalty to Jesus Christ. 

d. Do not believe that any national, state, or city gov- 
ernment should have any control of the Church. This is 
called the " separation of Church and State." 

e. Believe that every man should have a right to wor- 
ship God as he thinks is right without interference from 
the government, that is, full religious liberty. 

(3) The local church. Explain briefly the Baptist 
church organization — pastor, deacons, trustees, and other 
church officers (such as clerk and treasurer). 

(4) The Association, State Convention, and Northern 
Baptist Convention. Explain that these are the groupings 
of local churches together in order to conduct better the 
great enterprises of the church. 



Preparation for Church-Membership 87 

2. The reasons why a Christian should join the church : 

(1) To show his colors. 

(2) To do his share of the work. 

(3) The church is Christ's representative in the world. 

(4) Every Christian needs the help the church can 
give him. 

3. What is expected of a church-member. 

( 1 ) That he be loyal to his Lord and to his church. 

(2) That he try to live so as to bring no dishonor to 
the church. 

(3) That he support the church regularly with his 
money, its service regularly with his attendance, and give 
a share of his time and strength to its work. 

LESSON VI 

Church Ordinances 

1. Baptism, Acts 5 : 2-9; Matthew 7 : 24, 25; 28 : 
18-20. 

(1) The reasons for baptism: The example of Jesus. 
The Command of Jesus. 

(2) Is baptism necessary to salvation? No, salvation 
is through faith in Christ alone. Colossians 2 : 12-14. 

(3) The manner of baptism. The New Testament 
references to baptism are always to immersion, which 
alone expresses the beautiful symbolism explained by 
Paul. Romans 6 : 3-11. 

(4) Who should be baptized? Those who have first 
accepted Jesus as their Saviour. 

2. The Communion of the Lord's Supper. 

(1) The first celebration. Matthew 26 : 26-30. 
Read this passage slowly to the class and help them 



88 Church School Objectives 

to get the picture in their minds and hearts. Bring out 
that it was communion, that is, a meal the disciples to- 
gether shared with their Lord ; it was a memorial, " in 
remembrance of me"; a memorial of the manner of his 
death for us, but also a promise of his return, "till I 
drink it new with you in my father's kingdom." 

(2) The spirit of our observance. 1 Corinthians 11 : 
20-28. 

Reverently, humbly, as in the presence of Jesus. 

Review and Examination 

The leader must remember he is dealing with immature 
minds, and must follow a teaching rather than a preaching 
method. At the beginning of each class lesson briefly 
review the preceding lesson from the knowledge of the 
class. Require them to master the material in the same 
way they study their public-school lessons. At the close 
of the course set a simple form of examination. This 
may be prepared for by a drill on a comprehensive list 
of questions at the class session preceding the written 
examination, with the announcement that the examination 
questions will be taken from the list. Impress upon them 
that the examination will show their faithfulness to the 
class work. Make some provision for honoring those who 
pass the test. 

It must be clearly understood that church-membership 
does not depend upon a mental examination. This is not 
a confirmation class whose graduates are to enter the 
church as a matter of course. The all-sufficient require- 
ment is faith in Jesus Christ. But a simple form of ex- 
amination will disclose to a careful leader whether the 
instruction has been understood and appropriated. 



CHAPTER VIII 
WORK FOR THE CHILDREN 

I can forgive Jacob, schemer, deceiver, selfish coward 
as he was from youth to middle age, because of one sen- 
tence of his. Within it there is evidence that the mys- 
terious Unseen Adversary had indeed " touched " him. 
On the morning after the conflict Jacob thought first of 
the children and said to Esau, " Let my lord pass on . . . 
and I will lead on gently . . . according to the pace of 
the children." 

In this outline of the year's work we have not been 
unmindful of the children. A month is devoted to their 
special interests. But it is expected that local church 
leaders will also present the children's claims as each 
goal of effort is considered. 

Children in the General Program 

In the projected Survey it is the task of the Cradle 
Roll, Beginner, Primary, and Junior Department officers 
and teachers to call the attention of the church to the 
conditions which environ their work. Later, the super- 
intendents of these departments will surely press their 
teachers into the teacher-training classes. When the cam- 
paign for equipment begins, the children's needs must 
be persistently and warmly urged. The emphasis upon 
evangelism should meet with quick response from elemen- 
tary teachers. Those who deal with the tender hearts 
of children will desire to protect them from an unwise 
g 89 



90 Church School Objectives 

public appeal. They will create opportunity to talk alone 
with each primary and junior child. They will make 
certain that in these interviews the children really hear 
and understand Jesus' words, " Suffer the little children 
to come unto me." 

Many homes must then be visited; parents must be 
convinced that it is a hazardous act to thwart a child's 
desire to confess Christ and enter the church. 

Children's Week Postponement 

In the past, this great week has been observed in May. 
By action at Kansas City of the Committee on Children's 
Work at the time of the International Sunday School Con- 
vention, the date has been changed to October, 1923, for 
which a Baptist program will be prepared. 

Two things have been agreed upon. First, denom- 
inational groups will join in various community meetings 
during the week. Secondly, on the final Sunday, each 
local church will be urged to hold its own separate meet- 
ing for its parents and church workers in order to secure 
some practical results from the general interest which has 
been aroused. 

Leaflets similar to the one used this year, with full 
particulars and a suggestive program, can be secured by 
sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Chil- 
dren's Work Division, Department of Religious Educa- 
tion, The American Baptist Publication Society, Philadel- 
phia, in August, 1923. 

A Great Cradle Roll Campaign 

Our Department of Children's Work inaugurated a 
nation-wide Cradle Roll Campaign during last April and 



Work for the Children 91 

May. Complete reports are not yet in, therefore the 
winning State cannot be announced at this time. 

Many State Directors of Children's Work and some 
Directors of Religious Education sounded trumpets. In 
some states many Cradle Rolls were revised, many names 
added, and many new Rolls begun. Some sleepy schools 
were aroused to activity. Others only opened one eye and 
turned over for another nap. 

It has been found that the second successive campaign 
brings more results than the first year. So the State 
Directors of Children's Work, after canvassing the situa- 
tion, voted to renew the effort in April and May of 
1923, closing with Children's Day, the second Sunday in 
June. 

The church which did not get into the national game 
this spring will thus have another chance in 1923. Those 
which achieved some substantial gains will find in our 
new plans advanced goals worthy of effort. 

Reasons for a Cradle Roll Campaign 

First, the Cradle Roll Department is our source of 
supply. It is our Sunday School Reserve Force. A small 
Cradle Roll Department inevitably means a small Be- 
ginners' Department and later a weak Primary Depart- 
ment. A large Cradle Roll, properly worked and gov- 
erned, brings, in two or three years, a large increase in 
the school's enrolment. 

The war's statistics of church-membership revealed our 
failure to capture this generation for Christ. The last 
large Community Surveys disclosed 27,000,000 boys, girls, 
and youth not enrolled in any Sunday school. Of these 
probably 12,000,000 should be in our elementary de- 



92 Church School Objectives 

partments. Let us begin to repair our costly errors of 
the past by capturing the babies at once. 

Secondly, victory here means securing the interest of 
the home. Parents cannot be indifferent to the church 
which enrolls their babies, remembers their birthdays, 
offer frequent invitations to social affairs for their en- 
joyment, sends helpful and cheerful magazines like 
" Babyhood" quarterly, and through cheery, tactful visit- 
ors brings the love and good-will of the church into the 
home. 

All this is offered freely without suggestions of offer- 
ing or mite-box and thousands of parents have been won 
for Christ and the church through the Cradle Roll minis- 
trations. In a Denver church more than one hundred 
parents of Cradle Roll Children came in one year into its 
membership. A well-known Denver gambler was con- 
verted through the Cradle Roll effort. 

Many churches have no Cradle Roll. Many have inac- 
tive ones, wall rolls only, which might as well be rolled 
up and burned. We know one roll, never revised, which 
still carries the name of a young man who was graduated 
from college this year. 

Results Sought 

We ask that each church revise its Cradle Roll and 
then through pastor, board of trustees, deacons, woman's 
society, Sunday-school adult classes as well as lower 
departments, start in April a hunt for babies which shall 
culminate on Children's Day. If you haven't a Cradle 
Roll, start one. If you have one in name only, appoint 
a live superintendent and start the Baby Hunt. 

If you have a good Cradle Roll Department, let the 



Work for the Children 93 

whole church join in an effort to triple it and reach every 
unchurched home where there is a baby. In a mining- 
camp of five hundred they adopted recently this slogan, 
" Every baby on the Cradle Roll," and through persistent 
loving effort, even little Jewish and Catholic babies were 
enrolled. 

Every State is expected to enter this nation-wide cam- 
paign. Your success will help your State win honors at 
the Northern Baptist Convention. 

Seven Goals in the Campaign 

We ask not merely a meaningless enrolment of names, 
but suggest seven definite points for achievement. These 
are within the reach both of large and small schools. 

Goal I. The enrolment of babies during April and 
May. On Children's Day a recognition service for new 
babies with babies and parents present. Each baby should 
be presented in turn and its name called. Four-year-old 
members will be given diplomas and welcomed as mem- 
bers of the Beginners' Department. The summer months 
offer better opportunity for the attendance of little chil- 
dren than the following Rally Day. 

Goal II. A Cradle Roll Party for babies and mothers 
before Children's Day. A kodak picture of this group 
and a " write-up " for the press will help advertize the 
campaign. Many churches make this a quarterly social 
event. 

Goal III. A Cradle Roll Nursery during the hour of 
church worship or Sunday school, or both. Some older 
women not active in church work may gladly serve here, 
and a class of young girls can appoint members to assist 
in turn under supervision, Parents will welcome the 



94 Church School Objectives 

chance to attend as they did before the " kiddies " came. 
Tired mothers will enjoy rest and worship. 

Goal IV. A Cradle Roll Class, in separate room or 
screened corner of Beginners' Department or hall. Here 
the children of two and a half and three, who often dis- 
turb the work of the department, can be both taught and 
entertained. We advise the course of fifty-two lessons 
prepared by Miss Danielson, " Object Lessons for the 
Cradle Roll," with the accompanying nest of blocks, ob- 
jects, and story papers. 

Goal V. A Parents' Class or Mothers' Class, which 
meets at the Sunday-school hour for the discussion of 
Parents' Problems. Some fine little books are now ready 
for use, or free discussion of assigned topics under a 
skilful leader may be preferred. Some churches have a 
monthly Mothers' Club to meet this vital need. 

Goal VI. Two Appeals to Home : ( 1 ) Attractive cards 
carried to each child's home by a Cradle Roll visitor on 
or near the birthday; (2) individual pictures of all the 
babies displayed in a large frame in the hall of the church. 
Photographers usually furnish these without charge for 
the chance of selling copies to parents. 

Goal VII. At one of the quarterly parties, the work of 
the " Jewel Band " can be presented. Those mothers 
whose hearts are opened to include less fortunate babies 
than their own, will enroll their children and receive the 
pledge cards, mite-boxes, and literature. 

It must be made clear that the " Jewel Band " is not 
the Cradle Roll Department and does not take its place. 
It is a separate organization with an appeal which should 
gain the support of mothers in the church congregation 
and of others who are willing to assist in its lovely service 



Work for the Children 95 

to orphan babies the world over. But the Cradle Roll 
Department must continue to reach church homes and 
also the unchurched and non-Christian parents, and there- 
fore cannot afford to use a mite-box or ask for any funds. 
It must serve " without money and without cost " that its 
motives may not be misconstrued by the uninformed or 
prejudiced. 

Fuller Details 

A card sent to the Division of Children's Work, The 
American Baptist Publication Society, Philadelphia, will 
bring to you a booklet, " The Cradle Roll Department," 
which will give full information upon all the points men- 
tioned above and many other helpful methods which can- 
not be crowded into this chapter. 

Advertising the Campaign 

A Poster Contest. Interest your young people in a 
Cradle Roll Poster Contest. Select the best for use in 
store windows throughout your neighborhood and in the 
halls and departments of your church. 

Enrolment Contest. Put on a contest between different 
classes and organizations to secure the most Cradle Roll 
Babies in one month. Read the challenges publicly. 
This will create interest. 

Announcing New Names. Awaken attention by sus- 
pending a long paper roll high on the wall above the 
pulpit platform. The present names may head the list. 
Before closing each Sunday, let representatives of com- 
peting classes or individual workers attach, in the pres«- 
ence of the audience, additional strips of paper bear- 
ing the names gained during that week. One winning 



96 Church School Objectives 

church's roll finally extended to the rear of the church 
and back again to the front. Many schools secured more 
than a hundred through the stimulation of this public 
recognition of effort. 

Reporting Success 

Report results in June to your State Director of Chil- 
dren's Work or, if you lack this worker, to your State 
Director of Religious Education. Do not forget or delay. 
This will help your State's standing. 

An Appeal 

Does your church desire to serve its community ? Does 
it need the cooperation of Christian homes? Does it 
pray that parents may be led to acknowledge Christ as 
Saviour? Here is the way of least resistance: "And a 
little child shall lead them." 

Advertising Suggestions 

Every wide-awake school will desire to issue its own 
advertising for the campaign. The following is a sug- 
gested list of titles from which selections can be made for 
posters, bulletin-boards, and newspapers: 

Calling the Children to the Colors. 
Campaigning with the Children. 
Foundation Work. 
Springtime and the Children. 
The Children's Campaign. 
The Church and its Children. 
A Church Crusade for Children. 
Springtime Plans. 



Work for the Children 97 

A Springtime Campaign. 

"More and Better Babies" — in Church. 

A Campaign for Babies. 

The Babies' Campaign. 

Campaigning for Babies. 

Building Foundations. 

Standard for a Cradle Roll Department (adopted by 
the Sunday School Council, January 27, 1916. Ap- 
proved by the International Sunday School Associa- 
tion, February 17, 1916). 

The church and Sunday school may assist in the re- 
ligious nurture of little children in the home and insure 
their future membership in the Sunday school. To this 
end it is desirable : 

1. To keep in touch with the children and parents by : 

(1) Organizing a Cradle Roll of children from birth 
to three or four years of age, with a superintendent and 
any needed assistants. 

(2) Recognition of membership in the Sunday school, a 
public roll, and an accurate, permanent record of names, 
birthdays, promotions, removals, parents' names, and ad- 
dresses. 

(3) Public promotion not later than the fourth birth- 
day to the beginners' class or department. 

2. To make definite provision for the child's early re- 
ligious nurture by : 

( 1 ) Suggesting to parents appropriate stories, prayers, 
songs, or simple lessons preparatory to the beginners' 
lessons, and furnishing helpful literature when neces- 
sary. 

(2) Furnishing appropriate and simple preliminary in- 



98 Church School Objectives 

struction and a sympathetic teacher for the Cradle Roll 
class, if there is one in the Beginners' Department. (Note. 
If children under four years of age attend Sunday school, 
special provision should be made for them in a Cradle 
Roll class.) 

(3) Mothers' or parents' meetings or classes, in which 
topics concerning the early training of children shall be 
considered, and by providing a home library for their 
use. 

3. To provide for social contact between Sunday school 
and home, by: 

(1) Visits, messages, and invitations for special 
days. 

(2) Recognition of birthdays 

(3) A Cradle Roll Day annually. 

(4) An occasional social affair for parents and chil- 
dren. 

Standard for a Beginners' Department (adopted by the 
Sunday School Council, January 27, 1916. Approved 
by the International Sunday School Association, 
February 17, 1916). 

The standard for the Beginners' Department is that 
which it is possible for a child to become during the 
years of four and five. 

What the child becomes manifests itself in conduct. 

Conduct 

I. The conduct of the beginners may manifest : 

1. Love, trust, and reverence for God. 

2. Association of the heavenly Father with daily life. 



Work for the Children 99 

3. Right behavior. 

4. Love for God through prayer, praise, and effort to 
please him. 

5. Love for others through acts of helpfulness. 

Aims 

II. To realize these ends in conduct, the child must 
have: 

1. A knowledge of the power of God, to give love, pro- 
tection, and care. 

2. A consciousness of God as his heavenly Father and 
Jesus Christ as his friend. 

3. Ideals of right conduct. 

4. Opportunities for worship. 

5. Opportunities for helpfulness. 

Means 

III. As means of realizing these ends, provision should 
be made for : 

1. Religious instruction and religious experience suited 
to the child of beginners' age, secured through : 

( 1 ) The use of Beginners' Graded Lessons. 

(2) The story method and informal conversation with 
pictures and objects. 

(3) Contact with nature. 

2. An environment which fosters religious feeling, se- 
cured by : 

(1) Providing a separate room (curtained or screened 
place where room is not available). 

(2) Making the room or corner attractive, homelike, 
and childlike; light and well ventilated; appropriate in 
color and decoration. 



100 Church School Objectives 

(3) Furnishing chairs suitable for little children (pref- 
erably arranged in a circle). 

(4) Adequate materials for teacher and children. 

(5) Having a separate program for the entire session 
where room is available. 

3. Opportunities for self-expression, secured through: 

(1) Worship in song, prayer, offerings, and Bible 
verses. 

(2) Conversation, retelling of stories, and handwork. 

(3) Self-control in Sunday school. 

(4) Deeds of kindness possible for little children. 

4. Teachers qualified by nature, training, and religious 
experience ; that is, teachers who 

(1) Possess a sympathetic understanding of child 
life. 

(2) Have a personality attractive and helpful to chil- 
dren. 

(3) Seek frequent contact with little children in their 
home, school, and play life. 

(4) Graduates or students in a training course, a com- 
munity training-school, or a school of principles and 
methods. 

(5) Are continuing their specialized training in a 
graded union or by the reading of one specialization book 
a year. 

(6) Lead a sincere Christian life. 

5. Children of similar interests and limitations grouped 
into a beginners' class or department. 

( 1 ) Comprising children four and five years of age. 

(2) Having a teacher or superintendent and assistants. 

(3) Promoting children about six years of age to the 
Primary Department on annual Promotion Day. 



Work for the Children 101 

Standard for a Primary Department (adopted by the 
Sunday School Council, January 27, 1916. Approved 
by the International Sunday School Association, 
February 17, 1916). 

The standard for a Primary Department is that which 
it is possible for a child to become during the years of 
six, seven, and eight. 

What the child becomes manifests itself in conduct. 

Conduct 

I. The conduct of the primary child may manifest : 

1. Love, trust, reverence, and obedience to God the 
Father and Jesus Christ the Saviour. 

2. Recognition of the heavenly Father in daily life. 

3. Love of God through worship. 

4. Love and reverence for God's book, God's day, and 
God's house. 

5. Increasing power to act in response to ever-enlarging 
ideas of what is right and desirable. 

6. Increasing spirit of obedience and helpfulness. 

7. Increasing power to give love and forget self in 
social relations. 

Aims 

II. To realize these ends in conduct the child must 
have : 

1. A knowledge of God in his love, care, might, and 
power to give help and guidance. 

2. A consciousness of God as the heavenly Father and 
Jesus Christ the helper and Saviour. 

3. Experience and training in worship. 



102 Church School Objectives 

4. Happy associations with God's book, God's day, and 
God's house. 

5. Instruction concerning what is right and wrong, 
proper examples, and opportunities for choosing the right. 

6. Opportunities for helpfulness. 

7. Opportunities for play and service in cooperation 
with others. 

Means 

III. As means for realizing these ends, provision should 
be made for: 

1. Religious instruction and religious experience suited 
to the children of primary age, secured through : 

(1) The use of primary graded lessons. 

(2) Graded primary supplemental lessons, with the 
Uniform Lessons when used. (Some denominations rec- 
ognize only graded lessons.) 

(3) The story method, with pictures, blackboard, and 
illustrative material. 

(4) Graded correlated missionary instruction. 

(5) Graded correlated temperance instruction. 

2. Worship which expresses the child's religious feel- 
ing, secured through : 

( 1 ) Appropriate service of worship. 

(2) Reverent atmosphere and proper environment. 

(3) The teacher's spirit and manner. 

(4) Contact with nature. 

3. An environment which inspires order and reverence, 
and is conducive to worship and work, secured by : 

(1) A separate room (curtained or screened place, 
where a room is not available), light, and well ventilated. 

(2) Attractive decorations and arrangement. 



Work for the Children 103 

(3) Comfortable chairs and class tables. 

(4) Adequate material for teachers and children. 

(5) A separate program for entire session, where a 
room is available. 

4* Opportunities for self-expression alone and with 
others, secured through : 

(1) Worship in song, prayer, and Scripture. 

(2) Conversation, retelling of stories, recalling Mem^ 
ory Verses, and handwork. 

(3) Giving, which includes missionary offerings. 

(4) Unselfishness, self-control, and acts of service. 

5. Teachers qualified by nature, training, and religious 
experience; that is, teachers who 

(1) Possess a sympathetic understanding of child life. 

(2) Have a personality attractive and helpful to chil- 
dren. 

(3) Seek frequent contact with little children in their 
home, school, and play life. 

(4) Graduates or students in a training course, a school 
of principles and methods, or a community training-school. 

(5) Are continuing their specialized training in a 
graded union or by the reading of one specialization book 
a year. 

(6) Lead a sincere Christian life. 

6. Children, six, seven, and eight years of age grouped 
into a class or department, according to age, interest, and 
ability. 

(1) In a small school, a primary class separate from 
other classes. 

(2) In a larger school, a primary department, with a 
superintendent, officers, class teachers, and classes com- 
prising not more than eight children. 



104 Church School Objectives 

(3) Class groups: 

a. Children approximately six years of age in first-year 
grade or classes. 

b. Children approximately seven years of age in second- 
year grade or classes. 

c. Children approximately eight years of age in third- 
year grade or classes. 

(4) Promotion of children from grade to grade within 
the department ; graduation from the third grade into the 
Junior Department, with recognition on the annual pro- 
motion day. 

Standard for a Junior Department (adopted by the 
Sunday School Council, January 27, 1916. Approved 
by the International Sunday School Association, 
February 17, 1916). 

The standard for a Junior Department is that which it 
is possible for a pupil to become during the years nine, 
ten, eleven, and twelve. 

What the pupil becomes manifests itself in conduct. 

Conduct 

I. The conduct of a junior pupil may manifest: 

1. Love and loyalty to God the Creator and Father, 
and to Jesus Christ as daily Companion, Guide, and 
King. 

2. Acceptance and public confession of Jesus Christ as 
his Saviour. 

3. Reverence, love, praise, and thanksgiving through 
worship. 

4. Right choices and decisions in increasing numbers. 

5. Acts in accord with ideals of moral heroism. 



Work for the Children 105 

6. Habits of church attendance, daily Bible study, daily 
prayer, and systematic intelligent giving. 

7. Growth in a life of service to others. 

8. An unselfish and cooperative spirit in social relations. 

Aims 

II. To realize these ends in conduct, the pupil must 
have: 

1. Knowledge of God in his creative and sustain- 
ing power, and of Jesus Christ in his power and 
majesty. 

2. Personal knowledge of Jesus Christ as his Saviour. 

3. Experience and training in worship. 

4. Such acquaintance with the lives of heroes of the 
faith as will make him feel the attractiveness and value 
of right behavior. 

5. Knowledge of Bible content and related facts of 
geography and history. 

6. An understanding of what is meant by a Christian 
life for a junior child. 

7. Opportunities for service. 

8. Ample opportunity for social contact under gui- 
dance. 

Means 

III. As means for realizing these ends, provision should 
be made for : 

1. Religious instruction and religious experiences suited 
to this stage of moral and spiritual development, secured 
through : 

( 1 ) The use of junior graded lessons. 

(2) Graded junior supplemental lessons, with the Uni- 



106 Church School Objectives 

form Lessons when used. (Some denominations recog- 
nize only graded lessons.) 

(3) Special studies in the life of Christ in the last year 
of the junior period. 

(4) A combination of the story, recitation, and ques- 
tion methods in teaching, with use of Bible by pupils, and 
suitable handwork. 

(5) The use of pictures, blackboards, maps, and other 
available illustrative material. 

(6) The memorization of Scripture and church hymns 
related to the lesson text. 

(7) Frequent competitive map, memory, and Bible 
drills between classes. 

(8) Graded correlated missionary instruction. 

(9) Graded correlated temperance instruction. 

2. Worship which expresses feelings and aspirations 
possible to a junior child, secured through: 

( 1 ) Appropriate service of worship. 

(2) Reverent atmosphere and proper environment. 

(3) The superintendent's spirit and manner and the 
teacher's reverent participation in the service. 

3. An environment which inspires natural, reverent 
worship, and is conducive to orderly study and work 
secured through : 

(1) A separate room (curtained or screened place, 
where room is not available), light, and well-venti- 
lated. 

(2) Separated classes during lesson period (partitions, 
curtains, or screens). 

(3) Attractive decorations and arrangement. 

(4) Comfortable chairs and class tables. 

(5) Adequate materials for teachers and pupils. 



Work for the Children 107 

(6) A separate program for entire session, where a 
room is available. 

4. Stimulation through incentives and recognition, in 
order that right action may become habitual, secured 
by: 

(1) Credits given for (a) regularity, (b) punctuality, 
(c) systematic giving, (d) daily Bible reading and study, 
(e) memory work, (/) neatness and completeness in 
handwork, (g) church attendance. 

(2) Department honor roll. 

(3) Department motto, such as "Be ye doers of the 
word." 

(4) Teacher's example and helpfulness. 

(5) Exhibit of pupils' work. 

5. Opportunities for self-expression in conduct, indi- 
vidual and social, secured through : 

( 1 ) Worship in hymn, prayer, and Scripture. 

(2) Participation in class or department drills. 

(3) Doing required handwork. 

(4) Giving to the local church, missions, and benevo- 
lences. 

(5) Departmental and individual acts of service. 

(6) Signing the temperance and anticigarette pledge. 

(7) Frequent social gatherings. 

(8) Entering into church-membership. 

6. Teachers qualified by nature, religious experience, 
and training ; that is, teachers who 

(1) Possess a sympathetic understanding of the ex- 
periences, interests, needs, and possibilities of junior boys 
and girls. 

(2) Meet the needs of these pupils for Christian adult 
companionship in every-day life, 



108 Church School Objectives 

(3) Live, worship, and work in harmony with all that 
is desired for the pupils. 

(4) Are graduates or students in a training course, a 
community training-school, or a school of principles and 
methods. 

(5) Are continuing their specialized training in a 
graded union or by the reading of one specialization book 
a year. 

7. Pupils of nine, ten, eleven, and twelve years of age 
grouped into classes or a department, according to age, 
sex, interest, and ability. 

(1) In a small school a class of boys and a class of 
girls, separated from other classes. 

(2) In a large school, a Junior Department, with a 
superintendent, officers, class teachers, and classes com- 
prising not more than eight boys or girls. 

(3) Class groups: 

a. Pupils approximately nine years of age in first-year 
grade or classes. 

b. Pupils approximately ten years of age in second- 
year grade or classes. 

c. Pupils approximately eleven years of age in third- 
year grade or classes. 

d. Pupils approximately twelve years of age in fourth- 
year grade or classes. 

(4) Promotion of pupils from grade to grade within 
the department; graduation from the fourth grade into 
the Intermediate Department, with recognition on the 
annual promotion day. 



CHAPTER IX 
CHURCH VACATION SCHOOL 

The time has come when we must give to the Church 
Vacation School its place in the unified program of the 
Church School. The modern school of the church not 
only cares for its children during the Sunday session, but 
during the week in a week-day session, and then, with the 
advent of summer, recognizes the opportunity afforded 
in planning a religious educational program for the chil- 
dren and youth of the church. 

It is not a session " added on " to the Sunday school. 
It is rather a part of the whole educational program of 
the church, and the church willingly assumes the respon- 
sibility for it. 

What It Is 

The Church Vacation School (or as it is sometimes 
called, the Daily Vacation Bible School) is a school for 
religious education held during the summer vacation 
period. It should be held for sixty hours divided as 
follows: Three hours per day, five days each week, for 
four weeks ; or two hours and a half per day, five days 
for five weeks or two hours, five days for six weeks. 
All sessions are held in the morning. 

The program has four elements; devotional period, 
story, miscellaneous exercises including music, and ex- 
pressional activities. 

109 



110 Church School Objectives 

The Devotional Period should be a training in the de- 
votional life, twenty minutes at opening and ten minutes 
in closing the session. One-sixth of a session should be 
given to this period. 

The Story Period should include a conversation period 
with the story as its theme, the two together occupying 
thirty minutes, or one sixth of the session. 

The Miscellaneous Period will be broken up and scat- 
tered throughout the session ; thus items of it may come 
between the Devotional Period and the Story, between 
the Story and Music work, or within and following the 
Expressional Period. The Miscellaneous Period will in- 
clude such items as' habit and Americanization talks, mis- 
sionary stories, calesthenics, drills in Scripture and hymns, 
vocabuiary-building, and other appropriate exercises. 
One-third of the session should be used in this way. 

The Expressional Period should not be given over to 
handwork. This is both interesting and valuable, but 
other lines of expressional activity are just as interesting 
and valuable. There should be frequent dramatization 
of Bible and missionary stories and life- situations. There 
should be games of religious educational, value such as 
Bible Baseball, Confusion-, Living Map, Sword-drill, and 
other drills in game forms. In handwork, projects should 
be undertaken which will involve discussion, measure- 
ments, and investigations; e. g., building pasteboard 
models of temple, tabernacle, your present church, and the 
church you should have. Many other pieces of work 
may also be done, such as modeling a large relief map of 
Palestine, repair of church furniture, building of church 
vacation equipment such as blackboards, tables, sand- 
tables, benches, student chairs, etc. 



Church Vacation School 111 

All handwork should have one or more of the fol- 
lowing values : illustrating the lesson or theme, utilitarian 
or altruistic values. 

What It Will Do 

The Church Vacation School will give twice as much 
time in one summer for religious education as the Sun- 
day school can give in one year. On account of the length 
of the daily session and the five succeeding sessions each 
week, vastly greater progress can be made by the pupils, 
and impressions are so much deeper that they become 
lasting. 

Because of the shortness of time each Sunday, the 
teaching of the Sunday-school lesson is in danger of be- 
coming superficial and of being quickly forgotten. By 
means of drills, this partially remembered work of the 
Sunday school may be clarified and made permanent by 
the Vacation School. 

Hymns and Scripture under the present system are not 
being memorized. The Vacation School makes of these 
clear and definite possessions. 

The Vacation School is so attractive that it effects the 
following results : secures the faithful attendance of Sun- 
day-school pupils, causes them to love the work and urge 
its continuation in afternoons and during the entire sum- 
mer. It brings into its sessions large numbers of children 
who are untouched by the Sunday school. 

The Vacation School will give the pastor a new vision 
of possibilities with children, a new hold on them, a new 
entrance to homes, and a new joy in service. 

The Vacation School is one of the finest fields for 
training of workers which the church has yet discovered. 



112 Church School Objectives 






Promotion and Organization 

1. In promoting a Vacation School for the first time 
the following steps may be taken : 

(1) Form a nucleus of interested persons, the pastor 
being one, if at all possible. 

(2) Secure free literature from your Director of 
Religious Education. 

(3) Let the members of the nucleus thoroughly pre- 
pare themselves in order to present the Vacation School 
before every organization within the church. 

(4) Get the pastor to give two prayer-meetings and 
one sermon to consideration of the Church Vacation 
School and its possibilities. One-half of the first prayer- 
meeting should be given to a presentation of the Devo- 
tional Period of a Vacation School, using the audience 
and not children as the school. The second half of the 
meeting may well be used for a discussion of the pro- 
gram and the possibilities. The second prayer -meeting 
may be given to prayer for evangelistic results among the 
children and for teachers who will volunteer to do the 
work. The sermon may well take up the theme of more 
adequate religious education of the right kind for our 
children. 

(5) Get definitely fixed in the minds of all that this 
is a task in evangelism and not primarily a plan for 
entertaining and employing children. 

(6) Get the church to adopt officially the Vacation 
School as a line of its work and to commission either 
the Sunday school or a special committee to proceed to 
its establishment. 

2. The organization of a Vacation School begins as 



Church Vacation School 113 

soon as a church (or Sunday school) authorizes a special 
group to proceed. (Where the church as such will not 
take an interest, a Sunday school or other group may 
carry out the plan, but best results require the interest 
and cooperation of church and pastor.) 

(1) The first step of the duly authorized group will be 
to appoint the following committees: a. Publicity; b. 
Housing and Equipment; c. Finance and Teachers; d. 
Lesson Courses; e. Administration. 

(2) If the church has a committee on religious educa- 
tion, it should be given full consideration. In the entire 
field of the Vacation School adjust the work to this 
committee as local conditions make wise. 

What Will It Cost? 

This cannot be answered readily because so much de- 
pends on local conditions, ingenuity of teachers, and 
economy in use of materials. A school under normal con- 
ditions should not cost to exceed $1.00 per pupil in aver- 
age attendance. Great numbers of first-class schools are 
costing from twenty-five to seventy-five cents per pupil. 
Much material for handwork can be secured without cost 
in many communities. For suggestions, see leaflet, " Sur- 
prise Package," also " Church Vacation School Hand 
Book,'' Judson Press, 35 cents. 

The money for a Vacation School should be provided 
as an item in the church budget. If this does not seem 
best, it may be provided by the Sunday school, young 
people's society, women's society, Brotherhood, or organ- 
ized adult classes. If it is necessary to have more than 
one amount subscribed, this additional sum can usually 
be obtained by a free-will offering at the closing session 



114 Church School Objectives 

of the school. If necessary, the children may be re- 
quired to make two of any articles they desire to take 
home, the first made to belong to the school and offered 
for sale at the closing session, the second article to be 
taken home at the close of the school if the material used 
is paid for. This last method is suggested only as a 
last resort. 

The Workers' Conference 

1. In order to have a Vacation School, the time to 
begin is as early as possible. If this is to be your first 
school and no action has been taken previously, make 
arrangements to have the nucleus suggested under " Pro- 
motion and Organization," and have a supply of literature 
on hand so as to be prepared to present the whole subject 
of the Vacation School at the May meeting of the Work- 
ers' Conference. 

2. Learn just how much of the time of the conference 
will be given to the presentation of the Vacation School. 
Divide this time into equal parts and abide rigidly by the 
division. 

3. In the first division, have the members of the con- 
ference take part as children and carry out a Devotional 
Period of a Vacation School. This should afterward be 
repeated in the first prayer-meeting to be devoted to the 
subject. (If at all possible, have the Devotional Period 
in this meeting of the conference directed by one who has 
had experience in a Vacation School.) This program 
should be carried out in a snappy, but in a serious and 
reverent way. 

4. In the second portion of time, have the substance of 
this chapter, or the material of the leaflet literature, pre- 



Church Vacation School 115 

sented at the conference meeting by members of the 
nucleus referred to under " Promotion and Organization." 
5. Ask the conference to act officially in launching the 
promotional work suggested under " Promotion and Or- 
ganization." 



CHAPTER X 
THE SUMMER TRAINING-SCHOOL 

The American Baptist Publication Society has made 
part of its task of religious education the nurture of 
State Baptist Summer Assemblies. As soon as the 
churches of a State Convention come to have a feeling 
of responsibility for their young people, inevitably the 
summer opportunity for training is suggested. At first 
individual churches attempt camps and training-confer- 
ences. But it soon becomes evident that a group of 
churches can do what no one church can do. This leads 
to an agitation of the Summer-Assembly question in the 
State Convention. At this point the Publication Society is 
ready with encouragement and advice drawn from the 
experiences of many States. From Ohio's first experi- 
ences at Hiawatha many years ago to the thirty Baptist 
Summer Assemblies of 1922, a long rich development has 
come. It is estimated that ten thousand Baptist young 
people, pastors, and church workers were in the classes 
and under the assembly's helpful influence this year. 

Causes of Growth 

The reasons for the growth of Baptist Summer-Assem- 
bly work are not hard to find. They are twofold: (1) 
The need of the church for consecrated, trained leaders, 
and (2) the need of the individual for a richer religious 
life and service. The ideal values in a Christian church 
may be lost in the commonplace. By removing to some 
116 



The Summer Training-school 117 

motmtaintop of privilege and looking back on the old 
church, many a church-member has caught a vision of 
possibilities which was obscured by a too-near view. 
Then, too, it is possible to secure for the assembly lec- 
turers and inspirational speakers whom the local church 
cannot hope to have. In a few days at an assembly a 
member of a small church can get what would not ordi- 
narily come to that church in years. The assembly group 
will give an attitude toward Christian service, an intel- 
ligent love of the Bible, a habit of study, knowledge of ap- 
proved methods, practise in expression, stirring glimpses 
of the coming kingdom of God, and a new sacredness to 
personal responsibility. 

What the Assembly Seeks 

At all assemblies the students are in the classroom in 
college buildings or in a summer auditorium, or meet 
frequently in the great out-of-doors during the morning 
hours. They take courses of study in every phase of the 
church's task. In the afternoon there is the rest, play, 
and recreational period. Then, as the sun sets, all meet 
on the hilltop, by the sea, or by lake or river, or possibly 
on the steps of a college building, and as the night shades 
fall engage in prayer and meditation. 

Words utterly fail to express the possibilities for en- 
richment to those who attend the Summer Assembly. 
Morning devotions around the breakfast-table, prayer 
and Bible study at the beginning of the morning study 
period, the information and inspiration imparted during 
the study of Sunday-school needs, missionary tasks, and 
extension work of the kingdom, is by no means all that 
comes to those privileged to attend a Summer Assembly. 



118 Church School Objectives 

What do the walks and talks mean in the afternoon and 
early evening, walks and talks with our missionaries and 
missionary leaders, our Sunday-school experts and out- 
standing pastors? What do the group prayer-meetings 
mean, as all gather in such groups at the close of the 
day? What do the challenges to life service mean? 

Ideals 

The Assembly has set before itself a threefold ideal: 
(1) study, (2) play, and (3) inspiration. Assembly 
leaders are planning a three-year course of training for 
which an assembly diploma will be issued to the faithful 
student. The standardized course requires at least twenty 
lesson periods of satisfactory work from every student 
at an assembly session. When credits for three years are 
accumulated, and a thesis or paper is prepared, the student 
becomes a graduate. The diploma is issued in the name 
of The American Baptist Publication Society and the 
State Assembly. The diploma represents the honor con- 
ferred by the denomination and its expectation toward 
a faithful student in kingdom service. 

Recreation is no less prominent a feature of the As- 
sembly than study. It is aimed to give everybody a thor- 
oughly happy and enjoyable time. With this end in view 
the best place in the State has been sought for outdoor 
life, joined to classroom facilities. A trained leader of 
recreation is usually found, who features a special sports 
program each day of the assembly. It is the expectation 
that the recreational life will be not only enjoyable but 
give a training in organizing play and give suggestions 
which can be carried back to the churches. In many 
churches the social life, especially of the young people, 



The Summer Training-school 119 

needs enrichment and needs to be tied up to the church. 
Every afternoon is kept free from required classes and 
devoted to play. 

The assembly gathers some of the choicest young peo- 
ple and church workers of the State. As the days pass 
everybody becomes acquainted. The delightful fellow- 
ship, the consideration of high themes, the call of great 
need, and the willingness of young hearts create an as- 
sembly spirit that is rare and wonderful. In the evening 
twilight, in the solemn hush of a vesper service, some 
great message lifts all life up to a new level and produces 
changes that abide. The climax of the assembly comes 
in the life-service appeal. In that meeting many hun- 
dreds of young Christians have made one of the tremen- 
dous decisions of their lives. 

The Sunday School and the Assembly 

Every Baptist Sunday school ought to feel a double 
concern : Are we supporting a Baptist State organization 
behind the assembly, and are we systematically working 
for a worthy delegation to the Summer Assembly? 

In many States it has been difficult to start a Summer 
Assembly because of the indifference of the churches. 
No part of the church will receive more help from a 
good assembly than the Sunday school. If the Sunday- 
school leadership throughout the State is not interested 
in providing a training opportunity, who will be? One 
meeting of the Sunday-school teachers and officers dur- 
ing the year might well be devoted to the State Summer 
Assembly and means of helping. What does your assem- 
bly need in the way of equipment, buildings, more land, 
promotion funds, and how can your school help? 



120 Church School Objectives 

In the spring of the year every Baptist Sunday school 
ought to raise the question as to its delegation at the com- 
ing session of the Summer Assembly. Systematic effort 
should be made to spread information, arouse a desire, 
and carefully select the significant people. The best way 
to strengthen a department of the school is to send present 
or future leaders to an assembly. It is easy in church 
work to fall into ruts and to follow the line of least re- 
sistance. The assembly will jog contented workers out 
of their complacency. The most important people for 
the assembly are the young people. It will mean a great 
deal to any church to capture the natural leaders among 
the young people by the assembly appeal. 

A trained Christian leadership is the outstanding need 
of the times in which we live. Tomorrow's world looks 
to the parents, pastors, teachers, so to guide, encourage, 
and inspire our youth that they will now seek the needed 
preparation for tomorrow's leadership. To bring about 
these results, the principle of selective conscription is 
recommended. We urge that churches shall not only 
send delegates to the Summer Assemblies, but that these 
delegates be encouraged to select definite courses of study 
to the end that they may return to put to the best pos- 
sible use the methods gained at the assemblies. Delegates 
should be selected with a view to their fitness for the 
task and opportunity made for them to render this ser- 
vice upon their return. Members of church delegations 
are urged not to take identical courses, but to distribute 
themselves among the various departments so as to bring 
back to the local church the greatest contribution possible. 

New Jersey has a good suggestion which has been sent 
out to the pastors: 



The Summer Training-school 121 

The Assembly Commission asks the pastors to sit in conference 
with the prospective delegates from their churches to consider 
together the courses offered at the Summer Assembly. Pastors 
will render a real service to their young people by suggesting to 
them the appropriate courses for them to pursue, thus furthering 
the plans of the local church for the coming year. 

Rich Lesson Courses 

A suggestion as to the wealth of instruction at an as- 
sembly is found in the list of study courses offered at 
one Baptist Summer Assembly this year : 

" The Bible as Literature " presents the literary aspects 
of the Bible as an aid to the understanding and interpre- 
tation of Scripture. 

" India on the March " deals with outstanding stories 
of ancient and modern Indian Christian heroes. The 
Foreign Mission Book on India for young people will 
be the basis for this course. 

" Young People and Missions " relates the young peo- 
ple to their missionary opportunities and possibilities. 

" Personal Problems of Young Men " seeks to help the 
young man with some of the great questions of life. 

" Modern Church Organization " considers how a local 
Baptist church functions through its officers, boards, and 
committees. 

" Principles of Religious Education " emphasizes the 
organization and administration of religious education in 
the local church. 

" The Church of Tomorrow " stresses the relation of 
the entire church to its educational task. 

" The Teaching Value of the Old Testament " en- 
deavors to help the individual grasp the wealth of teach- 
ing material for all ages in the Old Testament. 
I 



122 Church School Objectives 

" The Trend of the Races " presents a study in race 
relations. Some of the great questions as to the treatment 
of the Negro in America will be considered. 

" Servants of the King " and " Comrades in Service " 
set forth some of the foremost missionary heroes. 

" Personal Problems of Young Women " shows that 
the future of any country is dependent upon its woman- 
hood — and how she can best influence the life of today. 

" The Rural Sunday School " states the principle under- 
lying a successful rural Sunday school. This course 
ought to be taken by all young people from rural com- 
munities. 

" Stewardship " gives the fundamental relationship of 
the individual to God, money, possessions, and talents. 

" How we got our Bible " tells us about the origin of 
the Bible. 

" Normal Course in Missions " acquaints the leaders 
of mission study groups with outstanding methods in the 
teaching and presentation of missions. 

" Social Problems " covers some of the pressing social 
problems of today. 

" The Church and the Home " tell us how the church 
may reach and influence the home. 

" Denominational Organization " states the way our 
great denomination functions through Associational, 
State, and national units; as well as the relationship of 
our various boards and societies to each other in accom- 
plishing our kingdom task. 

" Teaching Values of the New Testament " acquaints 
the individual with the truths and principles of the gospel 
of Christ, and aids in the formation of a background for 
the instruction of youth in the principles of Christianity. 



The Summer Training-school 123 

" Organizing the Church to Promote Missions " sets 
forth ways and means for enlisting the interest of the 
entire church in our missionary enterprises. 

" Work for New Americans " tells you how to help 
the foreigner in your midst by acquaintance with his char- 
acteristics and his needs. 

" Recreational Leadership " gives practical suggestions 
as to how you can enhance the social features of your 
church. 

" Elementary Department (the Junior)'* discusses vari- 
our phases and methods of conducting a Junior Depart- 
ment. 

" Parent Teacher Cooperation " states some practical 
methods of securing the hearty cooperation of the home 
in the religious training of childhood and youth. 

" Books with a Religious Value " aims at the improve- 
ment of home, church, and self, through the reading of 
worth-while books. 

" Missionary Education in the Local Church " gives 
some of the practical methods used in the local church 
in the impartation of missionary information. 

" Drama and Pageantry " sets forth definite sugges- 
tions as to the use of the drama and pageant in the enrich- 
ment of the special days of the church in the portrayal 
of religious truths. 

" The Training of the Child " deals with some of the 
hard and difficult problems a parent must face in the 
training of children. 

" Religious Music " covers the why and how of de- 
veloping worshipful programs in all of the services of 
the church. 

"Church Vacation School" traces the fundamental 



124 Church School Objectives 

principles as to organizing and maintaining a church vaca- 
tion school in the local church. Practical suggestions for 
doing the job. 

" The Home, the School of Religious Nurture " shows 
how the home might become a greater factor in the re- 
ligious life. 

Quotations from Various States 

Perhaps no better way can be found of giving an 
impression of the rich many-sided development of Sum- 
mer Assembly work under many leaders than in a series 
of quotations. 

West Virginia 

The West Virginia Baptist Assembly came into being during 
the session of the West Virginia Baptist General Association at 
Fairmont, October 15, 1909. It was the earnest ambition of its 
promoters to provide for the deepening of the spiritual life of 
our young people, and to furnish for them such a training in re- 
ligious education as would equip them for efficient work in the 
churches. Consequently these two needs have been uppermost in 
the minds of the management in arranging the programs each 
year. It was not overlooked that this must be the only vacation 
that many of our people would have, so recreational and fellow- 
ship features have been amply provided. Thus, the Assembly 
has been a most happy and enjoyable occasion as well as a most 
profitable one in educational and inspirational upbuilding. From 
the beginning, all who have attended have been expected to do 
the work required for the Regular Certificate; consequently our 
Assembly has had an enviable record among similar institutions 
for certificates granted. For several years past, the number of 
these conferred at the closing session has averaged above one 
hundred and fifty. It is expected that in the future no one will 
be admitted who does not purpose to take the work required for 
certificate honors. This means the hearing and taking of notes 
on at least twenty lectures, 



The Summer Training-school 125 



Nen> Jersey 

The Assembly is a builder of life. Its program today meets 
the demand of the church for young people with an ever-enlarging 
vision and an ever-increasing service with relation to the local 
church and her kingdom enterprises. The Assembly is a dis- 
coverer and trainer of leaders. Its faculty, out of rich Christian 
experience, enriches youth, inspiring and developing their highest 
possibilities for life services. The Assembly is a place of Christian 
fellowship. Its spirit is expressed in the motto, " Our Best for 
Him." Greeting chums in vacation time, newly formed friend- 
ships, the refreshing draft of learning and ideals send youth back 
to the home church more fully to share the responsibilities of his 
kingdom. 

New England 

The School of Methods enters upon its seventh year with every 
prospect of the largest attendance- in its history, and the largest 
and most complete curriculum ever offered. The cooperation of 
the Newton Summer School should mean a considerable increase 
in the number of ministers present. Our enlarged courses due 
to this fact are available, however, to delegates other than minis- 
ters. The Committee has arranged a finer program than ever, if 
possible, for the Ocean Park work. The long troubling camp 
situation has been cared for with the lease of fifteen acres of 
land back of Bethshalom. 

Doctor Peterson writes: We use very lavishly during the year 
slides of Ocean Park in all the New England States. From the 
first of January they are used two or three times every week on 
an average. Then, of course, we present the Assembly at all 
the Associational gatherings of the churches and Sunday schools 
that we visit, and make a very extensive use of the prospectus. 

Iowa 

And, what can we say of our beautiful, shaded Assembly park? 
Its praises have oft been sung. Its cool shady walks, the path 
down to the old spring, the adventures experienced in "Wild 
Cat Glen," the joys of a swim in the river, and even " home talent 



126 Church School Objectives 

night " in the old pavilion. All who have visited Iowa Falls speak 
of its beauty as an ideal place for a Summer Assembly. The city 
is justly famed as the scenic city of Iowa, and added to its natural 
beauty and attractiveness, it is unsurpassed as a clean, moral, and 
progressive city. 

Illinois 

The Recreation. Our recreational director will be Secretary 
Roy A. Crawford, of the Alton Y. M. C. A. The morning 
hours will be given over to study, but the afternoons and part 
of the evening hours will be spent in fun and fellowship, play 
and rest. Bring your racket, as there are four fine, new tennis- 
courts on campus. Besides the large athletic field with its ball 
diamond, plenty of opportunity will be provided to play volley- 
ball, quoits, croquet, etc. Small launches may be rented for trips 
up the Mississippi. A special excursion will be held on Wed- 
nesday afternoon and evening. The boys will find the " Y " swim- 
ming-pool at their disposal, and efforts are being made to secure 
the use of the new pool at the military academy for the girls. 
Come prepared to play, and play hard. Bring your " glad rags " 
with you. 

California 

" Somebody actually asked me if there was going to be any fun 
at Asilomar this year." Think of that — feature it! Well, I was 
there last year, every meal. It was worth the trip just to 
watch folks eat hot cakes. Some say that was not part of the 
recreation, but I'm not so sure about that. There are several 
things I seem to remember best of the ten days and nights of 
fun and frolic — and there'll be more to remember this year, for 
Laurel Sweitzer is going to pilot the recreation — that means zip, 
snap, pep, and all that sort of thing, you know. I've got a dandy 
picture of Harry Kern trying to jump twenty-one feet in the 
broad jump. He didn't. I've got another of Tommy coming in 
last and late, in the mile run. I understand Lucian Self is still 
wearing a bandage where the Pacific Ocean knocked him against 
the California coast. I'm not sure but Lucile Hurlbut is still in 
the Del Monte Maze ; I didn't see her get out. They say Dewey 



The Summer Training-school 127 

Purkey was seen alone, occasionally — as was Vic Bowen. The 
party (plural) guilty of throwing stones on the roof of the girls' 
tent house is known 1 Veda Hamlin caught a cold, but it couldn't 
keep up with her and " Doc " Thomas. There was some " recrea- 
tion by couples " according to Florence and Pansy — but it's not 
for me to say. " I saw Dr. ' Jimmy ' White pick up his 7,964th 
pretty shell. He shipped them all to Chicago." Some of the 
favorite expressions of the Assembly: Louis Denlis, "Thank you, 
I will take some more." Beulah Dye, "Let's sing that once 
more." Ruth Sweitzer, " Hurry up, there goes the breakfast-bell." 
Lillian Thomas, "Oh, where is my dinner tag?" Everybody, 
" She threw it out of the windo-ow." 

Fun? There was plenty of it. And the night caps were a 
scream. Better bring along your camera, you'll need it. Lots of 
things happen you can't remember unless .you see a picture of the 
" happeneth." 

Ohio 

The Assembly Certificate is granted for attendance and note- 
book work on twenty lectures, five of each of the required courses, 
and five from elective courses. 

A Blue Seal will be attached to the Certificate for a brief 
written review of a book on religious education. 

A Red Seal is granted for satisfactory work in a Leadership 
Course. 

A Gold Seal is granted for a book review and for work in a 
Leadership Course 

The Assembly Diploma is granted for three years' work or sixty 
lectures. 

The Ohio Baptist Assembly is an organization duly incorporated 
under the laws of the State of Ohio, as a corporation not for 
profit, for the express purpose of carrying on this summer Bible 
training-school work. The organization provides for four classes 
of membership, as follows : 

1. Life Member. Any individual, church, or society paying into 
an endowment fund for the support of the Assembly work the 
sum of $100 or more. 

2. Sustaining Member. Any individual, church, or society pay- 



128 Church School Objectives 

ing toward the support of the Assembly work the sum of $10 
or more each year. In return each Sustaining Member will re- 
ceive season tickets equal to the full amount paid. 

3. Cooperating Member. Any church, Sunday-school class, or 
society purchasing one or more season tickets each year. 

4. Annual Member. Any individual purchasing one season 
ticket. 

Every member will be entitled to a vote in all of the general 
business meetings of the organization. 

Washington 

For the protection of our young people, we wish it understood 
that from the time they arrive at Burton until they depart for 
home, they are under the supervision of the Assembly, and will 
not be given leave of absence except under written request of 
parents or guardian. All parties conducted on the grounds must be 
chaperoned by some one approved of by the Board of Directors. 

Oregon 

Would you like — 

To know Baptist young people from all parts of Oregon? 

To bathe in the Columbia River's tide-water? 

To play and hike and have lots of fun? 

To behold the golden glory of the sunset over Mt. St. Helens, 
Mt. Adams, and Mt. Hood — an extensive view across the Columbia 
unexcelled in natural beauty? 

To study under the direction of devout and able teachers and 
hear soul-stirring messages on Christianity and world problems? 

To secure a new vision for Christian service? 

Then come to Columbia City Assembly. 

Colorado 

Recreation Stunts — 

Blue Bell Canon, including the Royal Arch, 3 hours. 

Flagstaff Peak to Panorama Park, 4 hours. 

Green Mountains by the Flatirons and Camel's Back, 5 hours. 

Gregory Canon, 1 hour. 

Sunshine Canon to Red Rocks and Mt. Sanitos, 2 hours. 






The Summer Training-school 129 

Boulder Canon to Lover's Leap, including Boulder Falls, Power 
Plant, the Perfect Tree, and Nederland Lake. 

A hike will be made each day to one of the points suggested. 
Sometimes lunch will be taken, steak-frys will be enjoyed, and 
the sunset service will be held on a mountaintop. If the hikes 
are too long for all there will be plans for a later party to meet 
the first group for dinner together on the hill. 

The Future of the Summer Training School 

The Workers' Conference ought to inform itself of the 
present situation in your State Assembly and then go 
further. It ought to seek a glimpse of the possible de- 
velopment of the assembly, and stop to dream with the 
State Director. Ask him to outline his future plans and 
suggest what is in his heart to pray for. The meeting 
ought not to close without a season of prayer for those 
who are carrying this burden, and for the Baptist young 
people of the State. At Ocean Park they have adopted 
as a school hymn Whittier's beautiful words : 

Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, 

Forgive our feverish ways; 
Reclothe us in our rightful mind, 
In purer lives thy service find, 

In deeper reverence, praise. 

In simple trust like those who heard 

Beside the Syrian sea 
The gracious calling of the Lord, 
Let us, like them, without a word, 

Rise up and follow thee. 

O Sabbath rest by Galilee ! 

O calm of hills above, 
Where Jesus knelt to share with thee 
The silence of eternity 

Interpreted by love! 



130 Church School Objectives 

Drop thy still dews of quietness, 

Till all our strivings cease ; 
Take from our souls the strain and stress, 
And let our ordered lives confess 

The beauty of thy peace. 

Breathe through the heat of our desire 

The coolness of thy balm; 
Let sense be dumb, the flesh retire; 
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire, 

O still, small voice of calm! 






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